Radioactivity and Snuff

To situate the reader begin in 2006 and rescued news of that year, we find the death of a former KGB secret agent in a London hospital under suspicious circumstances, namely poisoned. The poison that ended his life, a radioactive isotope called "polonium 210", is much more widespread than we can imagine.

The world population smokes some six trillion cigarettes a year, each containing a small amount of polonium 210 that ends in the lungs. For a smoker of a pack and a half daily, inhaled throughout the year to radiation equivalent to 300 chest radiographs.

Note that polonium is not snuff the primary carcinogen (produces 2% of lung cancers due to snuff), there are others such as (and to name a few) benzo-alpha-pyrene diractemente acts on nitrogenous bases of DNA and produce mutations changing pairs. But unlike others, polonium, could be eradicated in a relatively simple and avoid the thousands of deaths that occur each year directly related. This fact, as the reader can imagine, it was not unknown for the tobacco they know their existence long before the author of this blog was born, about 50 years. They could do something but decided to do nothing and keep it secret.

Discovery of polonium 210 in the snuff

Like many other discoveries, for example X-ray, was obtained almost by accident. In the 60s and during the crisis of Cold War and space race of radioactivity effects on health have much interest among experts.

The radio-chemical Vilma R. Hunt and his team had developed a technique to measure very low levels of radium and polonium. Naturally, due to the restless nature and curious scientist Hunt took some samples of ash from a cigarette from one of his companions and analyzed.

The analysis results were astounding. Contrary to what I expected found no traces of polonium in ash samples, this left her shocked, because, no organic material analyzed by Hunt, including plants had produced negative results for polonium if the radius was present . However, and here is the answer to the combustion temperature of snuff, polonium is volatilized. Hunt concluded that absent polonium should go to smoke and, consequently, to the smoker's lungs.

In 1965 and radiation biologist Dr. John B. Little examined lung tissue from smokers looking for traces of polonium. The task was not easy for one side to remove tissue samples was too invasive smokers alive with the bodies the problem is that the lining of the lung resolves within three or four hours of the death, which forced to suck immediately after the patient's death.

Little just demonstrating the presence of polonium in specific areas of the lung: the isotopes are deposited at bifurcations of bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli, emitting alpha particles.

As winter turns to snuff polonium

Polonium-210 is a product of the decay of lead-210. Speculation two possibilities.

·      Disintegration products of radon-222 were deposited on the leaves of the plant.

·      The plant absorbed lead 210 fertilized land.

Later it was found that the two processes were given.

The Department of Agriculture of the U.S. in 1966 considered the presence of polonium in fertilizers and fertilizer analyzed. The results were that commercial fertilizers containing about thirteen times 226 within the mixture which results in an amount seven times polonium on the leaves. In 1974 the study was reviewed and it was concluded that the soil treated with fertilizers made from uranium-rich phosphates emit radon into the atmosphere. Radon decay to lead-210 and this would be deposited in the trichomes, the thousands of filaments that line the plant leaves snuff.

Accumulation of polonium 210 in the lung

For a time, agree that the radiation from the radon disintegrated products were the main causes of the high risk of cancer suffered by workers in uranium mines.That led to Eduard Martell National Center for Atmospheric Research U.S. to conclude that chronic exposure of smokers to low and concentrated dose of polonium 210 could mean the main cause Lung Cancer sermon and perhaps others.

A smoker inhales with each puff polonium. Consequently, even though the dose of polonium 210 were relatively low, the high exposure associated with the life of smoking increase the risk of developing cancer. The tests were conducted in laboratory hamster trachea introducing polonium thereof confirmed the hypothesis: although dosages were small and never inflamed tissue, 94% of the hamsters developed lung tumors.

We must remember that the main risks of polonium are also snuff in containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines.

To conclude note that these investigations for nearly five decades have begun to take into consideration from the year 2009 after the adoption of the Law for the Control of Snuff and Tobacco Prevention in the Family, the American Cancer Society invoke such legislation in order that the tobacco industry reveal the poisons of their products.

by iBonis Project

Bibliography: Polonium 210: A volatile radioelement in cigarettes. Edward P. Radford Jr. and Sciencie R.Hunt in January 1964.Puffing on Polinium. Robert N. Proctor in The New York Times. December 2006.The Polonium brief: A hidden history of cancer, radiation, and tabacco Industry. Brianna Rego September 2009. Scientific press

Cyberbullying and Adolescents

This blog I'll start by reminding Ryan the case struck me, perhaps because it was with that made ​​me aware of the true extent of this problem.

Ryan, a boy of 13 years contacted via SMS and e-mail during the summer of 2003 with a schoolmate. 's Partner had no interest rate by Ryan simply was following the game. At the end of the holiday and found both at school, this companion called it "failed" and mocked him in front of all your friends. On October 3, 2003, Ryan killed himself.

Definition of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying takes place anytime, using any device (phone, PDA, tablet, desktop, etc ...) and electronic service (e-mail, instant messaging, social networking, etc ...).

The young man suffering physical harassment at school, the risk of cyberbullying is seven times greater.

Mainly, parents, guardians and teachers need to pay attention to the alarm indicators of violence such as isolation, worsening of school performance and absenteeism.

Types of Bullyi

Flaming or heated Discussion: Youth attack each other while chatting: You can be brief and violent but can be a situation in which the partners insult and disrespect.

Harassment or Harassment: Serious Insults and abuse. The attacker sends hundreds of abusive messages.

Cyberbullying: The stalker uses different electronic media in order to pursue the victim. Follow hostile to the victim with threats and false accusations.

Happy slapping or paste for fun: Authors assault someone on the street while others recorded the scene and posted on the Internet.

Disclaimer: The authors expel another boy his virtual group denied access.

The data on the magnitude of cyberbullying are very varied. There is an estimate that ranges from 4% to 15% of young people affected depending on how you take the definition of cyberbullying and age group or people, date and other factors.

Anonymity on the Net

Harassment in the network has a great ally, anonymity. Young people can adopt false identities and spreading rumors or lies in wide range of people. According to the publication Die Polizie in cyber attacks reduces the natural inhibition that originates to harass another person because, not face to face with their victims and can not immediately see the consequences of their behavior

Traits stalker

Studies revealed that if there is a common factor among bullies and victims is the low self esteem of both. In the profile of victims and bullies-victims was also detected social anxiety disorders.

The child or adolescent stalker seek notoriety, wants to be impassive and powerful, is motivated by jealousy and revenge and sometimes harassment exercised only by boredom.

The more connected you feel the bully at school or their peers via trust or partnership decreases the degree of harassment of other students.

In the probability bullies routinely presented another problem behavior such as aggression or violation of rules increases the more harass their peers. Cyber ​​bullying can compensate and reinforce the low self-esteem.

In 2010, 11.6% of young people between 12 and 18 admitted to having been bullied in the network and 8% through mobile.

Listen alarm signals

Young people under school bullying state that subject for the same suffer from depression, you feel helpless and find it hard to concentrate.

The effects of cyberbullying results in certain signs or warning signs that parents and teachers should be aware of.

After a raid by Internet or receive message, the young man feels irritated, avoid contact with age peers and school performance worsens. Behavior is significant is because, often do not have your problem to adults, specifically, according to research just one in ten young adult reports someone suffering mobbing.

Teens should avoid posting on their profiles of social networks, the publication of information that can be used against you. If a child or young person has been bullied an effective way to react is to collect all the material and messages of harassment and sent to the parents of the bully. 

If it is a harmless harassment delete and ignore recommended. If the harasser is the same school must immediately notify the same direction as well as counseling and educational psychology departments in the case of having them.

Method "no blame approach" (no indictment)

In the decade of 80s Barbara Maines and George Robinson, a psychiatrist and director of a special school for children with behavioral problems developed that system.

This model starts from the premise that bullying can not be avoided in schools and the punishment is useless. Since this model is intended to identify those involved in order to analyze the basic problems together that have led to this situation. The goal is compression stalker to his victim to eventually asked forgiveness and establish a friendly relationship.

This model is applicable in situations where bullies known and belong to the same school of vícitima.

In any case, sincerity and curiosity about the issues that concern young people today, taking into consideration any suspicion of harassment and putting aid to the victim of punishment to the author are the indispensable foundations for parents, guardians and teachers wish to successfully solve the problem.

                                                                     by iBonis Project

Further reading: Examining Characteristics and Associated distress related to Internet harassment: findings from the second youth internet safety survey. Ybarra ML

School Absenteeism and Adolescence.

Actually, the reasons that lead young people to miss school are varied, we can find des want to sleep more, disinterest or avoiding school exams or professors. 

There is no clear relationship between absenteeism "normal" and academic performance, if it is clear that a very prolonged absence and sustained over time obviously will bill the student's performance and their perception of the desirability of further studies leading to many occasions in abandoning them.

The solution passes by three actors: Student, Parent and School

Profile truant student

Studies by researchers, on the other hand not too many have concluded that it is difficult to define a truant student profile. What we do know for sure is that the phenomenon is widespread.

In countries such as Switzerland and as a population study of 4,000 students (13 to 17 years) 95% reported ever having been absent class while 13% reported an assiduously realize.

Another survey conducted in Germany on students, concluded among other results, that it is boys who are absent more classes than girls, specifically, twice.

On the other hand are often the first and last classes of the day when they are chosen to skip class.

Reasons why students miss school

Keep in mind that there are a number of factors that influence a greater or lesser extent in decision making by a student who wants to skip class to do it. It would be interesting to consider these factors when conducting a study Local absenteeism.

Socio-economic factors, family, environmental, climate, infrastructure in the school environment, etc ... are some of them, for example, using a simple example, students in schools near entertainment centers have more options scratched using the class time in other leisure activities.

Truancy is often many times the "out" by which professionals in family therapy "pull" and find other abnormalities in the family.

In any case some of the reasons for absenteeism in some European countries such as Switzerland and Germany are:

·                    Lack of motivation

·                    Teaching boring

·                    Fear of examinations

·                    Doing homework

·                    Wanting to avoid the teacher for lack of understanding

·                    Cutting class with friends

·                    Harassment and violence by classmates. The latter rising.

Consequences of missing school

Absenteeism frequent and sustained over time endangers the development of children and young people in relation to those who perform sporadically or who do not perform. The consequences are often poorly adapted to the group, low or very poor school performance and school failure often with dropout.

The behavior of these students with frequent or very frequent absences moved to social and family with considerable potential for criminal behavior, damage to property or you document forgery in certificates or transcripts to be supervised by parents or guardians.

Extent of the problem

The serious truancy is not only the problem of the student. Every time extends the view that schools with high shares of absences deny their students the right to receive training.

Many of these schools have been put to work and have begun to assess the magnitude of the problem trying to implement solutions.

An example of this is made by some schools in UK which keeps a record of all absences and their motives when they have reached a certain number is set a series of meetings with parents to discuss the problem.

In some areas of other countries like Germany reward punctuality to school truants and justification "legal" faults, using a point card that guard the student's parents. After the course can redeem these cards with points on items with a value of up to 100 euros.

                                                                                                  by iBonis Project

Sources: Die Press Psicologie Des Lesschwänzens and scientific

Eating Disorder and Adolescence

When are the eating disorders in adolescence, is very complex and delicate in its approach. Professionals and experts reiterated the need to establish indicators for prevention.

It is our intention to help readers learn more about this disorder that unfortunately every year in Europe increases the number of cases.

Before addressing eating behavior disorder be ruled by any other physiological origin diagnostic tests prescribed by professionals.

Eating Disorders with the highest penetration in the adolescent population

Keep in mind that there are mixed forms of the disorders presented below, ie, anorexia can be accompanied by periodic binge.

Body Mass Index ˟

We consider a body mass index (BMI) for adults between 18.5 and 25. For children and adolescents is a function of age and sex. As an example of normal weight values ​​would be a 12 year old with a BMI 17.5.

BMI (body mass index)=  weight(kg) / height(m²)

Anorexia Nervosa

-  Body weight exceeding 15% below normal weight for age and sex. It will correspond to a BMI value below 15.4 for a girl of 12 years or less of 17.7 from 16.

- Symptoms associated with intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image, food rituals regarding food classification tolerable and intolerable and a high degree of perfectionism.

- Slimming volunteer.

- It comes with a much higher frequency in women than in men, approximately tenfold.

- The population covered in age between 12 to 28 years with a higher frequency at 15

Bulimia Nervosa

- Binge eating regularly and without control, you can consume 2,000 to 10,000 calories in a very short period of time (between 20 and 30 minutes).

- Purge later by vomiting or using laxatives.

- Maximum frequency at age 18.

- It is difficult to recognize by the circle closest to the teen because BMI is usually placed in the range 20-25.

- Boundaries between anorexia and binge eating are very fuzzy.

Binge Eating Disorder

- Between two or three times a week major binge in which can consume between 1,000 and 3,000 calories in 20 or 30 minutes.

- No purging occurs later by vomiting or laxatives.

- Affects between 20% and 30% of obese people.

- Equally affects men and women.

Obesity

- Important overweight with serious risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, BMI is above 30 adults.

- Affects 10% in children and adolescents and 20% in adults and rising.

- Equally affects men and women.

The Beginnings

The risk of eating disorders increases with the onset of puberty, since, at that time, the external appearance is increasingly important in self-esteem and can cause the impression to colleagues and your social circle. 

Within this framework are the girls who suffer greater pressure to be thin. It is the reason why adolescents suffer ten times as anorexia or bulimia than men of the same age.

To all this we add conflictual family environment, school problems often motivated by their own self-improvement level required and today is particularly relevant taking sports or artistic activities in which physical image is required with some established patterns relation to body mass, weight, etc ... motivates appears unconscious fixation to the body and eating behavior.

Warning Signs and answers

Some warning signs are:

1. The child feels despite slimming fat or underweight has its share.

2. Rituals striking when eating, chewing for a long time, staring for long periods dish, choose the food to eat in the same plate, crumble food, etc ...

3. Denial of hunger despite not having eaten food for a large time.

4. Excessive physical exercise in order to "burn" anything ingested.

5. Compulsive behavior.

6. Vomiting after meals (frequent trips to the bathroom)

7. It feeds on the sly

8. Steals food and hides food in his room or the whole house.

 

The answers, of course, goes through a continuous observation for a reasonable time to ensure it is anomalous behavior and once verified that it is not normal behavior, without hesitation, go to the professionals for advice, diagnosis and clinical follow.

This can indicate that the former would be good answers:

- Try to see the child as a whole, of course, never criticize your diet and figure.

- Educate and show the benefits of good nutrition for their age.

- If Slimming obvious way to see a doctor to rule out any organic cause.

- Never set a self treatment. It is a problem that can remain for years if not treated qualified professionals.

- Never press or distress the child. It is interesting to make him share in the food choices, on the other hand will help us assess how behavior evolves.

- It is very convenient, depending on the degree of confidence, that is the adolescent who decides to share sessions with parents or not. Parents will always be informed by professional evolution.

Conclusion

In the clinical diagnosis of a disorder in eating behavior as parents have to understand that something has gotten out of hand and we have failed to prevent it. So it is very important to interpret indicators we emit our children in all fields, in the food even more so.

On the other hand, in the time when the diagnosis of the disorder is "name", involve all actors involved in the social circle, educational, recreational, etc ... the child to ensure an effective intervention in the problem.

by iBonis Project

Sources: ICD-10 and DSM-IV / DSM-V

Recognizing & Preventing adolescent eating disorders and muscularity problems. L.Smolak and M. P. Levine. The prevention Researcher.

Addiction in adolescence. Addiction to new technologies

Addiction to new technologies

It is a growing phenomenon. However, the abuse often masks other underlying psychopathology.

It could be summarized in three points:

1. Any misuse of social networks and smartphones (smartphones) is usually a secondary manifestation of other psychological problems, family or personal.

2. May cause loss of social skills and social relationships difficult.

3. Its therapeutic intervention consists of re-learning a controlled behavior.

Social networks offer users the possibility of getting more visibility to other users and stay connected with your friends and followers. They turn emotions.

Smartphones in particular have gained a special appeal to teens in recent times for different reasons:

- Fast Response

- The recompesas are fast

- Allow interact.

- They offer many opportunities to interact

Good use Misuse

The use of I.T. in general is always positive and necessary not to forget social and customary activities of a teenager in your daily life (studying, going to the movies, interact with the family, etc ...). The problem arises when performing an abuse by the young, so that such behavior carries a young insulation to cause anxiety, it affects your self esteem and lose the ability to control. These traits are inherent in any excessive tilt can become whether or not chemical addiction.

Risk Indicators

There are a number of indicators that are interesting lend special attention:

1. Depriving yourself of sleep to connect.

2. Pay less attention to other activities of daily living such as going to the movies, meet friends, socialize with family, school tasks, etc ...)

3. Watch for the network at all times and mood swings for lack of use or performance.

4. Watch for the network - Losing track of time when you are connected.

5. Use deception techniques on the use and network time.

6. Feel euphoria when you are in front of the screen and connected to the network.

7. Social isolation.

Allways-On Connections

Instant messaging systems such as WhatsApp successful not help much.

In some way these systems favor the abuse. The arrival of messages is noticeable whenever the device is connected not only by the intended recipient user, also by the surrounding environment at that moment giving a false sense of being "popular".
On the other hand the application favors control behaviors in the sense that it is known whether a user is on-line just by looking at the device. It can also cause more serious problems of social exclusion, misunderstanding, etc ...
In any case should not be confused the misuse of the networks with the same addiction.
An addicted person seeks immediate gratification and does not look at long-term negative implications.

Risk Factors

Features in personality and emotional states increases vulnerability psychological addiction. Highlights include impulsivity, dysphoria, impaired displanceteros stimuli, thrill-seeking and transgressive.

The abusive use of virtual communities may also lead histrionic and narcissistic behavior.

As mentioned at the beginning, personality problems are in many cases as triggers of these disorders, such as shyness, depression, ADHD or rejection of the image.

Prevention

Educate the teen to make a reasonable and appropriate use of new technologies. It would be the maximum, for it must be carried from childhood a roadmap on using them and work it out with the child. We must limit our use, not to publish or disseminate personal data and reviewing content provided to the child as well as instruction in the use of various existing, search engines, download legal content, videos, etc ...

There are a variety of software to monitor sites visited, initially, this option is not recommended. We should make use of the same in case of failure in working together and in environments that trust-family-teen educators truly is impaired.

In any case if prevention fails you have to reassure your teenager that can turn any environmental educator or family for help.

Disorder treatment

Keep in mind that unlike, for chemical addictions like alcohol abstinence is the goal in the treatment of addictions (except game) the goal is the re-learning to control behavior. It sets several stages:

Stage 1 provides a check on the time and frequency of use, and avoiding risky places, ie isolated rooms, parlors, uncontrolled spaces with free Wi-fi, etc ...

2nd stage once taken control of the behavior is performed maintenance therapy focused mainly on avoiding risk situations and environments to prevent relapse. Keep in mind that last one or two years, the person begins to experience increasingly consolidated perception of control over the addiction.

3rd stage must focus on the specific problems of anxiety or depression and make the necessary changes so that the person can deal successfully with the activities of daily living and get other rewards outside the virtual world. At this point it is noted that they have had very good results with cognitive behavioral psychological treatments.

In the re-education and re-training therapies are based on this type of addiction.

by iBonis Project

Sources: Mental Health and Radio-Diagnosis, Journal of Clinical Psychology, scientific press.

For more information: Cognitive behavior therapy with Internet addicts: Treatment outcomes and implications vol 10, 2007