The Predictive Effect of Parent Closeness on Substance Use for Coping in Adoptees: An Application of Motivational Models of Substance Use

To explain a previously observed triad of substance abuse, adoption, and poor mental health adjustment in adoptees, the proposed study applies the Substance Use Motivation Model. This model would suggest that adoptees are motivated to use substances to negatively reinforce (remove or mitigate) depression and anxiety symptomology. Parent closeness is an established protective factor against negative mental health symptomology and substance use, suggesting closeness may influence the relationship between negative mental health symptomology and motivations to use substances for coping. To test this relationship, 100 adoptees were administered the Substance Use Motives Measure (SUMM), the Personal Health Questionaire-9 (Depression), the Personal Health Questionaire-7 (Anxiety), the Unidimensional Relationship Closeness Scale, and the Inclusion of the Other in Self measure. Much of the sample was of clinical significance on both mental health measures, corroborating previously observed high levels of depression and anxiety in this population. A stepwise regression model was built to determine the strongest predictors of substance use for coping in adoptees. Parent closeness significantly predicted substance use for coping, but in an unexpected way. Findings indicate that participants with higher closeness had higher scores on substance use for coping. Although unexpected, it is possible these results are exhibiting a unique pattern of social learning amongst adoptees and their adoptive parents. Further research is recommended to determine the extent of adoptive parent influence on decisions to use substances for coping with anxiety and depression symptomology

Spatial planning, infrastructure and implementation: Implications for planning school curricula

Infrastructure plays key roles in shaping the spatial form of the city at a macro- and a more local scale, and it influences the sustainability, efficiency and inclusiveness of cities and local areas. Linking infrastructure and spatial planning is therefore critical. Wide-ranging sets of knowledge and skills are required to enable planners to make these links, from technical knowledge of different types of infrastructure delivery systems, institutions and finance, to normative dimensions, such as sustainability, inclusion, liveability, efficiency, and their spatial implications, to socio-political, governance and institutional dimensions, such as the politics of decision-making, community participation, and negotiation. A matrix of knowledge and skills is produced, and the way these fields of study have been taken up in the undergraduate/honours planning programme at the University of the Witwatersrand is explored. The teaching methodologies and approaches which might be used to address these issues are discussed

ABO blood group and other genetic variants associated with pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Recent reports, including genome-wide association studies and self-reported blood serotype studies, have shown that individuals of European ancestry who carry non-O blood group are at an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Two recent genome-wide association studies of pancreatic cancer have identified associations between pancreatic cancer risk and genetic variants in the ABO blood group gene, the locus containing the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, the nuclear receptor family gene NR5A2 and a non-genic region on chromosome 13q22.1

Adaptive signal coloration maintained in the face of gene flow in a Hispaniolan Anolis Lizard

Background Studies of geographic variation can provide insight into the evolutionary processes involved in the early stages of biological diversification. In particular, multiple, replicated cases of geographic trait divergence present a powerful approach to study how patterns of introgression and adaptive divergence can vary with geographic space and time. In this study, we conduct replicated, fine-scaled molecular genetic analyses of striking geographic dewlap color variation of a Hispaniolan Anolis lizard, Anolis distichus, to investigate whether adaptive trait divergence is consistently associated with speciation, whereby genetic divergence is observed with neutral markers, or whether locally adapted traits are maintained in the face of continued gene flow. Results We find instances where shifts in adaptive dewlap coloration across short geographic distances are associated with reproductive isolation as well as maintained in the face of gene flow, suggesting the importance of both processes in maintaining geographic dewlap variation. Conclusion Our study suggests that adaptive dewlap color differences are maintained under strong divergent natural selection, but this divergence does not necessarily lead to anole speciation

Aplicação da fotogrametria para a coleta de dados da Antropometria da mão

Resumo: Atualmente se utiliza no Brasil muitos levantamentos antropométricos de nações, dado a escassez de informações da população nacional, uma das dificuldades observadas é a dificuldade técnica para a realização destes estudos, desta maneira este estudo objetiva avaliar a confiabilidade e a eficiência do uso da fotogrametria digital em medições antropométricas. A metodologia contou com a construção de um objeto de prova que foi submetido a medições em paquímetro e MMC (máquina de medição por coordenadas) que pela sua precisão e confiabilidade foi considerada referência de padrão ouro. Os dados obtidos apresentaram que a fotogrametria é eficaz apresentando um coeficiente de precisão abaixo de 0,940 em apenas uma variável, esta imprecisão é equivalente a 2,71 mm, os demais dados apresentaram valores de até 0,8 mm. Quando comparado o instrumento com o paquímetro ele se apresentou menos exato, porém dentro da normalidade e dos valores aceitáveis, dado a grandeza dos dados utilizados na antropometria. Utilizou-se então a fotogrametria em um levantamento populacional, fotografando um total de 2200 pessoas divididos de maneira semelhante entre homens e mulheres, buscou-se então a comparação destes valores, comparando e diferenciando entre homens e mulheres, entre mão direita e mão esquerda. Concluiu-se então ser a fotogrametria confiável, precisa e eficiente para a realização de levantamentos antropométricos populacionais

The Ties that Bind: Gender, Race, and Empire in Caribbean Indenture Narratives

This dissertation traces the ways that oppressive gender roles and racial tensions in the Caribbean today developed out of the British imperial system of indentured labor. Between 1837 and 1920, after slavery was abolished in the British colonies and before most colonies achieved independence, approximately 750,000 laborers, primarily from India and China, traveled to the Caribbean under indenture. This is a critical but under-explored aspect of colonial history, as this immigration dramatically altered the ethnic make up of the Caribbean, the cultural norms and traditions of those who migrated, and the structure of British imperialism. I focus on depictions of marriage, sexuality, and homosocial relationships in novels and autobiographies about this time as a key component to understanding the history and impact of indenture. I show that these depictions are used to support ideologies of race, empire, and nationhood, and that even those authors who critique empire reinforce patriarchy as they do so. To further understand the rhetoric that helped shape these dynamics, I use a comparative approach, considering texts by authors from different time periods and different nations, including Trinidad, Guyana, Britain, and the United States. For example, I examine a common trope in indenture narratives, a relationship between a British man in power and a female Indian laborer, and the ways that this trope is used to justify empire in texts that were written at the time of indenture, such as Edward Jenkins\u27 Lutchmee and Dilloo (1877), or to attack colonization and indenture in contemporary texts, like David Dabydeen\u27s The Counting House (1996). Through a close reading of indenture narratives and the historical circumstances that produced them, I demonstrate that the British Empire rested on intersecting hierarchies of labor, race, gender, and class, and that these hierarchies linger in the Caribbean today

A modified Delphi study of structures and processes related to medicines management for elderly hospitalised patients in the United Arab Emirates.

Rationale and aim: The structures and processes around the management of medicines for elderly, hospitalized patients are ill defined. This study aimed to determine consensus related to strategic and operational approaches in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: A modified Delphi technique, consensus study with first round statements developed from systematic reviews related to medicines management. Normalization process theory and the theoretical domains framework were applied in the construction of statements, organized into key elements of medicines management: guidelines for medicines management, medicines reconciliation, medicines selection, prescribing and review, medicines adherence, medicines counselling, health professional training and evaluation research. Seventy per cent (summative agree and strongly agree) was set as the target for consensus. Thirty panellists were recruited, representing senior physicians working within geriatrics, hospital pharmacy and nursing directors, chief health professionals (including social workers) and policy makers within the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi and academics. Results: A high level of consensus was obtained for most statements relating to the structures and processes of medicines management. While consensus was not achieved for targeting only those patients with medicines related issues, it was achieved for focusing on all elderly admissions. Similarly, consensus was not achieved for which professions were most suited to roles but was achieved for trained and competent staff. Conclusions: High levels of consensus were obtained for structures and processes of medicines management relating to elderly hospitalized patients. Trained and competent health professionals were preferred to specific professions for any tasks and that all elderly patients and not targeted patients should be the focus for medicines management

An exploration of health professionals' experiences of medicines management in elderly, hospitalised patients in Abu Dhabi.

Background Given the multiplicity of issues relating to medicines in the elderly, the structures and processes of medicines management should be clearly defined and described to optimise patient outcomes. There is a paucity of research which provides an in-depth exploration of these elements of medicines management for elderly patients. Objectives This study explored health professionals' experiences of medicines management for elderly, hospitalised patients in Abu Dhabi. Setting The research was conducted in five major hospitals in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. Method Responses to an online sampling questionnaire were used to purposively select nurses, pharmacists and physicians for interview. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed with reference to normalization process theory (NPT) and the theoretical domains framework (TDF) to explore issues of medicines management structures, processes and outcomes. Face-to-face interviews of 20-30 min were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the Framework Approach. Main outcome measures Health professionals' in-depth experiences of structures, processes and outcomes relating to medicines management. Results Saturation of themes was deemed to occur at interview 27 (7 nurses, 13 pharmacists, 7 physicians). Six key themes and several subthemes emerged from the qualitative analysis, which pertained to the need for: appropriate polypharmacy; a systematic approach to medicines history taking; improved communication and documentation; improved patients' adherence to medicines; guidelines and policies to support medicines selection, and an educated and trained multidisciplinary team. The most dominant TDF behavioural determinants were issues around: professional role and identity; beliefs about capabilities; beliefs about consequences; environmental context and resources; knowledge, and goals. NPT construct identified little evidence of coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring. Conclusion The key themes identified in this research indicate the need to develop a more structured approach to medicines management in elderly hospitalised patients in Abu Dhabi. The NPT constructs and the TDF behavioural determinants can be utilised as part of service development and implementing change