Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Telephone-based Mindfulness Training Intervention for Survivors of Critical Illness

Rationale: Persistent symptoms of psychological distress represent an unmet need among intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. Objectives: We aimed to develop and pilot test a simple telephone-based mindfulness training intervention to address this population’s unique needs. Methods: Open trial involving survivors of medical and surgical critical illness and their informal caregivers, using a pretest–posttest design. Measurements and Main Results: We developed a six-session, telephone-delivered, ICU survivor–specific mindfulness intervention based on past focus groups, the medical literature, and the precedent of the most effective components of existing mindfulness programs. A total of 11 survivors of mechanical ventilation were enrolled, together with 2 informal caregivers for exploratory purposes. Three patients dropped out before intervention initiation because of progressive illness or severe social stressors. Of the 10 remaining participants, 8 (80%) completed the program within 7 weeks. Among these eight patients and caregivers who completed all study procedures, six (75%) experienced improvement in symptoms of psychological distress (anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder). Changes in distress symptoms were correlated with improvement in mindfulness qualities, adaptive coping, and emotion regulation. Participants reported high satisfaction with the program in postintervention interviews. Conclusions: A new ICU survivor–specific mindfulness training intervention delivered by telephone was acceptable and feasible. Changes in symptoms of distress were correlated with changes in skills that were targeted by the mindfulness program. Controlled trials are needed to further evaluate this promising intervention

Values, attributes and practices of dance artists in inclusive dance talent development contexts

There is a paucity of research focused on understanding the qualities which underpin dance artists’ practice in working with talented young dancers with disabilities. This study investigated what informs how dance artists work in inclusive dance talent development contexts. Four dance class observations were conducted to provide evidence of dance artists’ qualities in practice. Six dance artists participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic data analysis revealed four categories: the dance persona; values; attributes; and practices of dance artists. The dance persona was typified by characteristics such as being human, humility, altruism, and confidence. Artists’ values and attributes included celebrating difference, aspiring towards equality and relationality. Their practices were exemplified by varied differentiation strategies and an emphasis on reflection. These findings provide new insight into what drives artists working with dancers with and without disabilities, and aids better understanding of best practice in this context

Experiences With and Attitudes Toward Death and Dying Among Homeless Persons

BACKGROUND: Homeless persons face many barriers to health care, have few resources, and experience high death rates. They live lives of disenfranchisement and neglect. Few studies have explored their experiences and attitudes toward death and dying. Unfortunately, studies done in other populations may not apply to homeless persons. Exploring these experiences and attitudes may provide insight into life, health care, and end-of-life (EOL) concerns of this population. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences and attitudes toward death and dying among homeless persons. DESIGN: Qualitative study utilizing focus groups. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-three homeless persons recruited from homeless service agencies. MEASUREMENTS: In-depth interviews, which were audiotaped and transcribed. RESULTS: We present seven themes, some of which are previously unreported. Homeless persons described many significant experiences with death and dying, and many participants suffered losses while very young. These encounters influenced participants’ attitudes toward risks and risky behavior: e.g., for some, these experiences provided justification for high-risk behaviors and influenced their behaviors while living on the streets. For others, they may be associated with their homelessness. Finally, these experiences informed their attitudes toward death and dying as well as EOL care; homeless persons believe that care will be poor at the EOL. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study have implications for addressing social services, health promotion, prevention, and EOL care for homeless persons, as well as for others who are poor and disenfranchised

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Can BSNE (Big Spring Number Eight) samplers be used to measure PM10, respirable dust, PM2.5 and PM1.0?

Wind tunnel and field measurements were conducted to evaluate whether the Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) sampler can be used to measure ambient concentrations of PM10 (particles less that 10 lm), respirable dust (particles less than 4 lm or PM4), PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 lm) and PM1.0 (particles less than 1 lm). The BSNE was tested against the DustTrak Aerosol Monitor and relationships with several other active automated samplers were investigated. Concentrations obtained from BSNE and DustTrak samplers tend to be comparable (less than 50% difference) within the wind speed interval 2–7 m s1 (PM10) or 2–9 m s1 (PM4, PM2.5, PM1.0) provided appropriate corrections are made for sampler efficiency, cut-off percentage and data transfer from mass to volume (or reverse). For wind speeds 10 m s1. Field measurements confirmed the wind tunnel data, but only for PM10. No field information was available for PM4, PM2.5 and PM1.0. Comparisons with data from the literature suggest that the BSNE behaves similar to several active automated gravimetric samplers, at least for PM10 and within the wind speed interval 1–5 m s1. No data were available to confirm this conclusion for higher wind speeds or other size fractions.status: publishe

Micromorphology and formation of pedogenic ooids in calcic soils and petrocalcic horizons

Ooids, pisoids, nodules, concretions, and a host of other terms are used to describe concentrically-zoned pedogenic carbonate, phyllosilicates, silica, and other minerals in calcic and petrocalcic horizons worldwide. The pedogenic and paleoenvironmental significance of such features is not always easy to interpret because variations in size, structure, composition, and soil-geomorphic context have been used to infer distinct modes of genesis for features that appear similar. Using both optical and scanning electron microscopy, petrocalcic soil samples from the Jornada La Mesa geomorphic surface in New Mexico and the Mormon Mesa geomorphic surface in Nevada were studied to reconsider the formation of pedogenic ooids. In this paper, “ooids” are \u3c 2 mm in diameter and are comprised of concentrically alternating carbonate and fibrous clay laminae. “Pisoids” are \u3e 2 mm in diameter and have a range of internal morphologies. Ooids were especially common within features including clast pendant laminae, pisoids, and laminar horizons or laminar horizon caps. We propose a possible new mode of ooid genesis, suggesting that crystal growth can move ooids tiny, incremental distances over time, and that phyllosilicates are an important genetic component. Ooids are interpreted to form via: (1) mineralization during the evaporation of solutions held by surface tension around mineral grains, clasts, or petrocalcic fragments, with or without the presence of organic matter, (2) hydration and plastic behavior of pervasive, pedogenic, fibrous phyllosilicates that co-precipitate with pedogenic calcite, and (3) tiny, successive movements caused by the crystallization pressure of pedogenic carbonate and other minerals during soil solution evaporation. Spheroidal morphology is initially promoted by chemical precipitation from evaporating solutions around grains. Next, crystallization pressures from the surrounding matrix displace grains non-uniformly, promoting stochastic contacts or ‘knocking’ of ooids against one another and against the soil matrix. Over long time spans, this micrometer-scale, episodic translocation and rotation, in tandem with the plastic behavior of fibrous phyllosilicates, enhances the spherical shape of ooids. The model described here does not preclude possible biological contributions to ooid genesis, nor refute the role of other processes in producing similar features in the same soil. Finally, ooid size is limited by physical and hydrological thresholds. Pisoids, as larger features, are more complex and are more likely to involve erosion; they do not form in the same manner as ooids. This study has implications for paleoenvironmental interpretations of calcic and petrocalcic horizons, and for the selection of pedogenic features for isotopic analysis

Naturally Occurring Asbestos: Potential for Human Exposure, Southern Nevada, USA

Amphibole asbestos minerals are known human carcinogens, and many regulations have been developed to limit occupational exposure. These minerals can also occur in the natural environment, where they may be more difficult to control. We applied a diverse set of analytical methods including scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron probe analysis, x-ray diffraction, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy to rock, soil, and dust samples and to particles attached to lothing samples and cars. We found naturally occurring fibrous actinolite, a regulated amphibole asbestos mineral, in rock, soil, and dust that can be transported by wind, water, cars, or on clothing after outdoor recreational activities. Sources of these fibrous amphiboles are several plutons in southern Nevada and Arizona and alluvial fans emanating from asbestos-containing bedrock. The morphology of the amphibole fibers is similar to amphibole fibers found in the USEPA Superfund site at Libby, MT. We found that the morphometry of the fibrous particles in the study area did not substantially change when the original bedrock weathered into soil, and particles were eroded and transported through wind and/or water and finally settled and accumulated on natural or other surfaces. Because large populations in Boulder City, Henderson, and Las Vegas are located only a few kilometers, sometimes even only a few tens of meters, downwind from the sources, and because most of the particles are transported in suspension after they are emitted, potentially large populations in Boulder City, Henderson, and perhaps Las Vegas could be exposed. This study demonstrates a potential public health risk to several large population areas.status: publishe