A configuração do circuito espacial de produção sucroalcooleira em Alagoas

The sugarcane production consists in the principal product activity in the state of Alagoas, holding a structure composed of 25 unities of production that represents the economic base of more than a half of its municipies, what make it be the biggest producer of the sector in North and Northwest, exporting its products for countries in different continents. From this reference, it was searched in the present work, to understand the configuration of the circuit space production of sugar cane in Alagoas, from the use of the territory, trough the analyses of the more significant events related to the sector, and, the established rules by the State, through the government, by organs like Institute of Sugar and Alcohol (IAA), and programs like National Alcohol Program (Proálcool), between others, that had as function to structure and to allocate resources to the sugar cane sector. It was realized that the investments done made possible the renovation of techniques used in the sugar cane complex. In the beginning, with the substitution of the mill for factories and, afterwards, the improvement of the agriculture and factory process themselves, improving the utilization of the byproduct, and the productive integration of instances, specially with the sugar, cane, electricity generation production, intensifying the participation of the state in the internation division of labor, giving it a organization structure divided by big hegemonic agents of this process. SO, the sugar cane geographic configuration existing in alagoano territory was restructured and the circuit even more pass to constitute movement of many scales, subsidized by cooperation circles. However, this configuration showed itself subservient to world commerce, what conditions the adoption of hegemonic practices that are far from the local projects and living practices. The verticality imposed offers a configuration that isn’t peculiar, that only serves to answer to the big hegemonic agent commands, characterizing the continuity of the present capitalism process. It means that the sugar cane factories use corporately the territory as resource to obtain more lucrativity and this way dominate the bigger quantity of consumer commerce

Adolescent protective behaviour to reduce drug and alcohol use, alcohol-related harm and interpersonal violence

Typically adolescents' friends are considered a risk factor for adolescent engagement in risk-taking. This study took a more novel approach, by examining adolescent friendship as a protective factor. In particular it investigated friends' potential to intervene to reduce risk-taking. 540 adolescents (mean age 13.47 years) were asked about their intention to intervene to reduce friends' alcohol, drug and alcohol-related harms and about psychosocial factors potentially associated with intervening. More than half indicated that they would intervene in friends' alcohol, drug use, alcohol-related harms and interpersonal violence. Intervening was associated with being female, having friends engage in overall less risk-taking and having greater school connectedness. The findings provide an important understanding of increasing adolescent protective behavior as a potential strategy to reduce alcohol and drug related harms.

Tests of the elaborated intrusion theory of craving and desire : features of alcohol craving during treatment for an alcohol disorder

Objectives. We tested predictions from the elaborated intrusion (EI) theory of desire, which distinguishes intrusive thoughts and elaborations, and emphasizes the importance of imagery. Secondarily, we undertook preliminary evaluations of the Alcohol Craving Experience (ACE) questionnaire, a new measure based on EI Theory. Methods. Participants (N ¼ 232) were in correspondence-based treatment trials for alcohol abuse or dependence. The study used retrospective reports obtained early in treatment using the ACE, and daily self-monitoring of urges, craving, mood and alcohol consumption. Results. The ACE displayed high internal consistency and test – retest reliability and sound relationships with self-monitored craving, and was related to Baseline alcohol dependence, but not to consumption. Imagery during craving was experienced by 81%,with 2.3 senses involved on average. More frequent imagery was associated with longer episode durations and stronger craving. Transient intrusive thoughts were reported by 87% of respondents, and were more common if they frequently attempted to stop alcohol cognitions. Associations between average daily craving and weekly consumption were seen. Depression and negative mood were associated with more frequent, stronger and longer lasting desires for alcohol. Conclusions. Results supported the distinction of automatic and controlled processes in craving, together with the importance of craving imagery. They were also consistent with prediction of consumption from cross-situational averages of craving, and with positive associations between craving and negative mood. However, this study’s retrospective reporting and correlational design require that its results be interpreted cautiously. Research using ecological momentary measures and laboratory manipulations is needed before confident inferences about causality can be made.

Neurocognitive profiles of people with comorbid depression and alcohol use : implications for psychological interventions

Depression and alcohol use disorders frequently co-occur and are highly prevalent. Both conditions are known to impair cognitive functioning, yet research into the role of these impairments in response to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is limited. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between baseline neuropsychological performance, severity of depressive symptoms and alcohol use disorders. Participants with current depression and hazardous alcohol use were functioning in the average range on all neuropsychological measures prior to treatment entry. Baseline measures of drinking severity and a range of cognitive functions were inversely correlated. After controlling for other baseline variables, superior baseline cognitive functioning predicted greater reductions in depression severity after 17 weeks. These predictive effects occurred across both brief and extended interventions. Findings suggest that improvement in depression following psychological treatment is enhanced by greater fluid reasoning ability and is predicted by executive functioning, regardless of the treatment length or problem focus.