13,195 research outputs found
Risk Starvation Contributes to Dementias and Depressions: Whiffs of Danger Are the Antidote
This paper’s objective is to use SKAT, the author’s Stages of Knowledge Ahead Theory of risk, to shed fresh light on the treatment and prevention of mental disorders. SKAT employs a broad definition of risk that allows for nice – not merely nasty – possibilities. SKAT is here shown to solve eight epidemiological puzzles left unexplained by our current theories and associated treatments for the demented and depressed. SKAT does so by enabling a decision model of mental health that puts centre stage why people (and other soft-wired animals) have brains – to make decisions under risk. To make good decisions (be healthy), brains need exercise. Brains get beneficial exercise from what the paper terms “whiffs of danger”, namely sets of risks with the characteristics that the risks are 1) tiny, 2) varied, and 3) frequent. Brains deteriorate when there are shortfalls in such risk exercise. The paper terms such shortfalls “risk starvation”. Those lacking a history of whiffs find normal mishaps too stressful and frequently become depressed. A lot of time with an inadequate amount of whiffs generates the endemic co-morbidity of becoming demented as well as depressed. Socio-economic cultural changes such as the introduction of unemployment benefits and old age pensions and increasing protection of women and children have had the beneficial effects of removing big challenges and big dangers and thus of prolonging physical longevity. But these changes also removed the tiny challenges and tiny dangers formerly faced by those sub-groups in the population identified as more prone to depressions and dementias. Unintentionally, these sub-groups thus were deprived of whiffs of danger, and suffered from risk starvation. In both drug and psychotherapeutic stress research and treatments of the depressed and demented, there should be injections of whiffs of danger to enhance the likelihood of enduring improvements. It is unkind and dangerous for people’s brains to be treated with drugs while maintaining the modern socioeconomic culture of coddling parents and coddling college / university student counsellors, coddling unemployment benefits and coddling old age pensions. These coddles need to be complemented with whiffs of danger, tiny varied chances and challenges. These whiffs of danger need to be introduced in three forms: eliciting social security recipients’ whiffs of danger in the form of little obligations to help the community; educating the poor and other sub-groups that believe closeting females at home endangers their mental health; and educating parents on the damage from overprotection. Overprotection prevents children from becoming inoculated against depression with sensible hope developed over a childhood in which they were allowed to experience numerous failures, not merely numerous successes from parents too closely engineering their environment. Research is required on the likely role of risk starvation in mental disorders other than dementias and depressions and in some physical illnesses.stress; whiffs of danger; decision; dementia; depression; risk starvation; risk; learning; hope; fear; risk-based emotions
University College London: Library DDA works PPG15 justification. Conservation strategy report.
Introduction: This report has been prepared for the Estates and Facilities
Division of University College London (UCL). UCL needs to
make alterations to the Wilkins building to improve access to the
library (on its upper floors) by the end of the year in order to
comply with the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act
(DDA).
In December 2003 Alan Baxter & Associates produced draft
Management Guidelines for UCL which identified what is
significant about the UCL buildings and to help streamline the
process of gaining future listed building consents. This report is
based on these Management Guidelines but includes
information from the recent opening-up works.
The Wilkins Building is Grade I listed. The new access proposals
involve removing a staircase, one of which was inserted by TL
Donaldson in 1849-51, and installing a lift (along with a new
staircase) to provide access for the mobility impaired to the
library. This report has been written to accompany an
application for listed building consent, and to demonstrate that
the alterations are required by the DDA, and are justifiable in
terms of the criteria set out in PPG15.
Although the proposed works affect only one part of the
building, it is important to see them in the wider context of the
building. This document begins by outlining the history of the
Wilkins building as a whole, from its construction in 1827-9,
through various modifications (notably by Donaldson), its
reconstruction and restoration by A E Richardson following war
damage, to its present day form (Sections 2 and 3). Section 4
also looks at the building as a whole, defining what elements of
it contribute most particularly to the ‘outstanding’ architectural
and historic importance given by its Grade I listing. These wider
sections allow the current proposals to be assessed both for their
impact on and the access benefits that they will bring to the
building as a whole. Section 5 therefore focuses on the
proposals to provide Disability Access to the library, describing
and justifying them according to the criteria of PPG15, showing
how they achieve an acceptable balance between the legitimate
access requirements of those with disabilities and the special
architectural and historic importance of the building
Formation and Incidence of Shell Galaxies in the Illustris Simulation
Shells are low surface brightness tidal debris that appear as interleaved
caustics with large opening angles, often situated on both sides of the galaxy
center. In this paper, we study the incidence and formation processes of shell
galaxies in the cosmological gravity+hydrodynamics Illustris simulation. We
identify shells at redshift z=0 using stellar surface density maps, and we use
stellar history catalogs to trace the birth, trajectory and progenitors of each
individual star particle contributing to the tidal feature. Out of a sample of
the 220 most massive galaxies in Illustris
(),
of the galaxies exhibit shells. This fraction increases with
increasing mass cut: higher mass galaxies are more likely to have stellar
shells. Furthermore, the fraction of massive galaxies that exhibit shells
decreases with increasing redshift. We find that shell galaxies observed at
redshift form preferentially through relatively major mergers
(1:10 in stellar mass ratio). Progenitors are accreted on low angular
momentum orbits, in a preferred time-window between 4 and 8 Gyrs ago. Our
study indicates that, due to dynamical friction, more massive satellites are
allowed to probe a wider range of impact parameters at accretion time, while
small companions need almost purely radial infall trajectories in order to
produce shells. We also find a number of special cases, as a consequence of the
additional complexity introduced by the cosmological setting. These include
galaxies with multiple shell-forming progenitors, satellite-of-satellites also
forming shells, or satellites that fail to produce shells due to multiple major
mergers happening in quick succession.Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS (new figures
3 and D1 + additional minor changes to match accepted version
Formation and Incidence of Shell Galaxies in the Illustris Simulation
Shells are low surface brightness tidal debris that appear as interleaved
caustics with large opening angles, often situated on both sides of the galaxy
center. In this paper, we study the incidence and formation processes of shell
galaxies in the cosmological gravity+hydrodynamics Illustris simulation. We
identify shells at redshift z=0 using stellar surface density maps, and we use
stellar history catalogs to trace the birth, trajectory and progenitors of each
individual star particle contributing to the tidal feature. Out of a sample of
the 220 most massive galaxies in Illustris
(),
of the galaxies exhibit shells. This fraction increases with
increasing mass cut: higher mass galaxies are more likely to have stellar
shells. Furthermore, the fraction of massive galaxies that exhibit shells
decreases with increasing redshift. We find that shell galaxies observed at
redshift form preferentially through relatively major mergers
(1:10 in stellar mass ratio). Progenitors are accreted on low angular
momentum orbits, in a preferred time-window between 4 and 8 Gyrs ago. Our
study indicates that, due to dynamical friction, more massive satellites are
allowed to probe a wider range of impact parameters at accretion time, while
small companions need almost purely radial infall trajectories in order to
produce shells. We also find a number of special cases, as a consequence of the
additional complexity introduced by the cosmological setting. These include
galaxies with multiple shell-forming progenitors, satellite-of-satellites also
forming shells, or satellites that fail to produce shells due to multiple major
mergers happening in quick succession.Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS (new figures
3 and D1 + additional minor changes to match accepted version
Environmental enrichment and the striatum: the influence of environment on inhibitory circuitry within the striatum of environmentally enriched animals and behavioural consequences
The nervous system is integral to the healthy and whole functioning of an organism, mediating interactions with and responses to an organism’s surroundings. Environmental enrichment (EE) provides stimuli above that usually experienced within the laboratory environment, and has been shown to greatly impact the nervous system. The maturation of inhibitory circuitry controls the level of neuroplasticity and functional maturity present within neural systems. This thesis investigates the effect of EE upon the development of inhibitory circuitry within the striatum. The striatum is the entry nucleus to the basal ganglia, and as such mediates various cognitive and sensorimotor behaviours. This thesis investigates the effect of EE upon striatally-mediated behaviours of both juvenile and adult animals. This thesis demonstrates that exposure to an enriched environment accelerates maturation of inhibitory circuitry within the striatum and increases the number of active inhibitory interneurons within the adult striatum; improves problem solving and goal-orientated learning; and influences animal behaviours within automated testing apparatus. This work sheds light on the mechanisms by which EE impacts an important nucleus within the brain, and has implications for potential treatments of neurological disorders. Determining the optimum environment for healthy brain development may also aid in early education and intervention programs targeted at young children
Environmental enrichment and the striatum: the influence of environment on inhibitory circuitry within the striatum of environmentally enriched animals and behavioural consequences
The nervous system is integral to the healthy and whole functioning of an organism, mediating interactions with and responses to an organism’s surroundings. Environmental enrichment (EE) provides stimuli above that usually experienced within the laboratory environment, and has been shown to greatly impact the nervous system. The maturation of inhibitory circuitry controls the level of neuroplasticity and functional maturity present within neural systems. This thesis investigates the effect of EE upon the development of inhibitory circuitry within the striatum. The striatum is the entry nucleus to the basal ganglia, and as such mediates various cognitive and sensorimotor behaviours. This thesis investigates the effect of EE upon striatally-mediated behaviours of both juvenile and adult animals. This thesis demonstrates that exposure to an enriched environment accelerates maturation of inhibitory circuitry within the striatum and increases the number of active inhibitory interneurons within the adult striatum; improves problem solving and goal-orientated learning; and influences animal behaviours within automated testing apparatus. This work sheds light on the mechanisms by which EE impacts an important nucleus within the brain, and has implications for potential treatments of neurological disorders. Determining the optimum environment for healthy brain development may also aid in early education and intervention programs targeted at young children
The Professional Artist as Public School Educator: A Research Report of the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education
Over the past eight years, the Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) has undergone an extensive regimen of program research and evaluation, utilizing both staff members and external consultants to collect, analyze, and interpret information on program effectiveness. This information has been used to shape and strengthen the partnership program each year in response to the needs of students, teachers and teaching artists as well as to changing political and cultural pressures within the Chicago Public School System. In addition,the documentation and publication of insights and lessons learned through arts integration experiences in the schools has contributed significantly to the wider body of research in the field of arts education.During the early years of the program, evaluation efforts focused on general descriptions of the program goals and objectives along with initial impacts on student life.Positive trends were identified in terms of administrative and faculty attitudes and increased involvement in thearts partnerships, due mainly to student interest. More recently, a closer, more detailed analysis of CAPE's growing influence on student learning, teaching practice and school climate has highlighted the value of quality, arts integrated instruction, including evidence of positive effects on standardized math and reading test scores.Last year, our research turned to program sustainability, partly in light of reduced funding, as well as to the assimilation of new partnership schools and an increasing organizational focus on the professional development of participating teachers and artists. In the vast majority of cases, CAPE partnerships have evolved through trials and successes to bring lasting effects on administrators, teachers, and students.Through these studies, it is increasingly apparent that the participation of well-trained teaching artists is a valuable, and in some cases vital, addition to the general education of youth. The presence and artistic know-how brought to the classroom by these talented, dedicated professionals can, and is, having notable, sustainable influence on whole school improvement through transforming the daily learning experiences of educators and students alike. Not only does the presence of a quality arts program enliven a school atmosphere and promote the advancement of artistic skills and aesthetic knowledge, but a closer look at rigorous arts integrated activities in the classroom is revealing important insights into the cognitive benefits of arts education. Not only can artfully constructed lessons that authentically bridge the arts and academic content domains assist in the acquisition of artistic understanding, but they can enhance learning across the academic curriculum and, perhaps more importantly, the underlying thinking curriculu
Developing a psychological understanding of museum object handling groups in older adult mental health inpatient care
An emerging body of evidence indicates that museum object handling sessions offer short term benefits to people in health care settings.
The aim of this study was to further understanding of the psychological and social aspects of a museum object handling group held in an older adult mental health setting.
Older adults (N = 42) from a psychiatric inpatient ward with a diagnosis of depression or anxiety took part in one or more of a series of nine museum object handling group sessions. Audio recordings of the sessions were subjected to a thematic analysis.
Five main themes were identified: “responding to object focused questions”, “learning about objects and from each other”, “enjoyment, enrichment through touch and privilege”, “memories, personal associations and identity” and “imagination and storytelling”. The first four themes were congruent with existing literature associated with positive wellbeing and engagement outcomes. Imagination and storytelling was a new finding in the group context.
This study offers preliminary support for museum object handling group sessions as an intervention in this healthcare setting. There may be potential to develop the therapeutic aspects of the sessions. Further research is recommended and areas for enquiry discussed
Haywards Heath College: report from the Inspectorate (FEFC inspection report; 116/95 and 63/99)
Comprises two Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) inspection reports for the periods 1994-95 and 1998-9
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