Perceptions of Development in Ghana

Entitled Perceptions of Development in Ghana, this work looks at how the concept of development is perceived in Ghana. In western, developed nations, development exists for the large part only as a concept. This paper shows, however, that in Ghana development takes assumes many forms. The work seeks to explore the essence of development by asking questions, such as: what does development mean? How does it manifest itself? How is the problem of underdevelopment approached by the Ghanaians that I interviewed? We will find that development is the subject of an open-ended dialogue, which sees no end in sight

A Synthesis of E-therapy in Social Work: an Ecological Perspective

The purpose of this research is to explore how empirical studies surrounding e-therapy may affect the social work profession from an ecological perspective. Technology has played an important role in expanding contemporary society\u27s ability to connect to one another. Currently, there is a significant number of people who are in need of mental health services but do not have access for a variety of reasons such as lack of local resources, financial issues, or simply the stigma surrounding seeking mental health treatment. This review explores eleven quantitative research articles in an effort to determine who is being treated with online therapeutic interventions, why they are being treated, and the outcomes of selected studies. Findings suggest that many aspects of online mental health treatment are being explored at an international level across all mental health professions. Studies conducted in Europe (n=4) tend to focus on adults suffering from general psychological issues, to individuals experiencing chronic addictions. Articles from Australia or New Zealand (n=3) are oriented around addressing young people\u27s (under 20) psychological concerns and perceptions of mental health treatment as a whole. Clinician\u27s perspectives are also examined in the remaining articles (n=4). Online mental health services may provide another avenue for the implementation of successful therapeutic interventions. Future research should continue to explore the efficacy of CBT and psychotherapy delivered online, making a conscious effort to repeat Standardized Measurement Tools (SMT)

A Synthesis of E-therapy in Social Work: an Ecological Perspective

The purpose of this research is to explore how empirical studies surrounding e-therapy may affect the social work profession from an ecological perspective. Technology has played an important role in expanding contemporary society’s ability to connect to one another. Currently, there is a significant number of people who are in need of mental health services but do not have access for a variety of reasons such as lack of local resources, financial issues, or simply the stigma surrounding seeking mental health treatment. This review explores eleven quantitative research articles in an effort to determine who is being treated with online therapeutic interventions, why they are being treated, and the outcomes of selected studies. Findings suggest that many aspects of online mental health treatment are being explored at an international level across all mental health professions. Studies conducted in Europe (n=4) tend to focus on adults suffering from general psychological issues, to individuals experiencing chronic addictions. Articles from Australia or New Zealand (n=3) are oriented around addressing young people’s (under 20) psychological concerns and perceptions of mental health treatment as a whole. Clinician’s perspectives are also examined in the remaining articles (n=4). Online mental health services may provide another avenue for the implementation of successful therapeutic interventions. Future research should continue to explore the efficacy of CBT and psychotherapy delivered online, making a conscious effort to repeat Standardized Measurement Tools (SMT)

Kinetic study of hydrogen-material interactions in nickel base alloy 600 and stainless steel 316L through coupled experimental and numerical analysis

In France all of the nuclear power plant facilities in service today are pressurized water reactors (PWR). Some parts of the PWR in contact with the primary circuit medium, such as the steam generator tubes (fabricated in nickel base alloy A600) and some reactor core internal components (fabricated in stainless steel 316L), can fall victim to environmental degradation phenomena such as stress corrosion cracking (SCC). In the late 1950's, H. Coriou observed experimentally and predicted this type of cracking in alloys traditionally renowned for their SCC resistance (A600). Just some 20 to 30 years later his predictions became a reality. Since then, numerous studies have focused on the description and comprehension of the SCC phenomenon in primary water under reactor operating conditions. In view of reactor lifetime extension, it has become both critical and strategic to be capable of simulating SCC phenomenon in order to optimize construction materials, operating conditions, etc. and to understand the critical parameters in order to limit the damage done by SCC. This study focuses on the role hydrogen plays in SCC phenomenon and in particular H-material interactions. Hydrogen, from primary medium in the form of dissolved H gas or H from the water, can be absorbed by the alloy during the oxidation process taking place under reactor operating conditions. Once absorbed, hydrogen may be transported across the material, diffusing in the interstitial sites of the crystallographic structure and interacting with local defects, such as dislocations, precipitates, vacancies, etc. The presence of these [local defect] sites can slow the hydrogen transport and may provoke local H accumulation in the alloy. This accumulation could modify the local mechanical properties of the material and favor premature rupture. It is therefore essential to identify the nature of these H-material interactions, specifically the rate of H diffusion and hydrogen trapping kinetics at these defects. Concerning these H-trap site interactions, literature presents very few complete sets of kinetic data; it is therefore necessary to study and characterize these interactions in-depth. This work is composed of two interdependent parts: (i) the development of a calculation code capable to manage these H-material interactions and (ii) to extract the kinetic constants for trapping and detrapping from experimental results in order to fuel the simulation code and create a solid database. Due to the complexity of industrial materials (A600 and SS316L), \enquote{model materials} were elaborated using a series of thermomechanical treatments allowing for the study of simplified systems and the deconvolution of the different possible trapped and interstitial hydrogen contributions. These \enquote{model} specimens were charged with deuterium (an isotopic hydrogen tracer) by cathodic polarization. After charging, specimens were subjected to thermal desorption mass spectroscopy (TDS) analysis where the deuterium desorption flux is monitored during a temperature ramp or at an isotherm. Interstitial diffusion and kinetic trapping and detrapping constants were extracted from experimental TDS spectra using a numerical fitting routine based upon the numerical resolution of the McNabb and Foster equations. This study allowed for the determination of the hydrogen diffusion coefficient in two alloys, Ni base alloy 600 and stainless steel 316L, and the kinetic trapping and detrapping constants at two trap site types, chromium carbides and dislocations. These constants will be used to construct a kinetic database which will serve as input parameters for a numerical model for the prediction and simulation of SCC in PWR

Interactions between hymenopteran species associated with gall‐forming wasps : the Leptocybe invasa community as a case study

1. Leptocybe invasa is native to Australia and induces galls on various species of Eucalyptus. Two genetically distinct lineages of this wasp have been detected outside its native range, namely, Leptocybe Lineage A and Leptocybe Lineage B. 2. The parasitoid Selitrichodes neseri was released in South Africa as a biological control agent against L. invasa. Another parasitoid of L. invasa, Quadrastichus mendeli, as well as Megastigmus zebrinus (parasitoid) and Megastigmus pretorianensis (role unknown), have also been recorded emerging from L. invasa galls. The objective of this study was to investigate the interactions between the different hymenopterans associated with L. invasa galls in South Africa. 3. L. invasa galls were dissected and species‐specific primers and restriction enzymes were used to identify the larvae where interactions were noted. 4. S. neseri, Q. mendeli and M. zebrinus were confirmed to parasitize Leptocybe Lineage A, and S. neseri was confirmed to parasitize Leptocybe Lineage B. Furthermore, there were direct interactions between these parasitoids, where parasitoids were found parasitising each other. The gall forming experiment confirmed that M. pretorianensis is not a gall former, but other potential roles remain uncertain.Supporting Information: Table S1. Species specific primers and their annealing temperatures for the hymenopteran species associated with Leptocybe invasa galls and the expected fragment sizes amplified by each species‐specific primer for the region Cyt b. Table S2. The fragment sizes of digested Cyt b amplicons using the AseI restriction enzyme for Leptocybe invasa (A and B), Selitrichodes neseri, Megastigmus zebrinus, Megastigmus pretorianensis and Quadrastichus mendeli.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/146195632021-10-13hj2021BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyZoology and Entomolog

The distribution and diversity of Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and its gall associates in South Africa

Leptocybe invasa is an invasive gall wasp and pest of Eucalyptus trees, which has become widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Several other wasp species have been found to co-occur in L. invasa-induced galls. In South Africa, this includes an introduced biological control agent, Selitrichodes neseri; two known, accidentally introduced parasitoids, Megastigmus zebrinus and Quadrastichus mendeli; and M. pretorianensis, whose role in the gall is uncertain. In addition to the gall associates, a second lineage of L. invasa or cryptic species was discovered in South Africa in 2015. To determine the distribution and prevalence of these species across South Africa, a national monitoring scheme was initiated. Galled Eucalyptus material was collected at infested sites and emerging adults were collected and identified. Morphology, DNA barcoding and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analyses were used to differentiate between the species and lineages. Results from the first two sampling periods indicated that L. invasa lineage A has spread throughout South Africa while lineage B had a more limited distribution in the country. Subsequent samples recorded the further spread of L. invasa Lineage B, which now occurs in all provinces sampled. The Leptocybe lineages were found to co-occur on individual trees, increasing the potential for admixture. From the Eucalyptus genotypes sampled, there was no indication of differences in host association between the Leptocybe lineages. Selitrichodes neseri, M. zebrinus and M. pretorianensis were present throughout South Africa and emerged from trees that contained both Leptocybe lineages, but their frequency varied with site. This study will inform future distribution of parasitoids as well as monitoring of potential changes in plant host resistance, admixture and parasitoid resistance in future.The Department of Science and Innovation–National Research Foundation, Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology and Forestry South Africa (FSA).http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tsfs20hj2023BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyZoology and Entomolog

Intrapulmonary administration of recombinant activated factor VII in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult oncology and hematopoietic cell transplant patients with pulmonary hemorrhage

IntroductionDiffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a devastating disease process with 50-100% mortality in oncology and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. High concentrations of tissue factors have been demonstrated in the alveolar wall in acute respiratory distress syndrome and DAH, along with elevated levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitors. Activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) activates the tissue factor pathway, successfully overcoming the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) inhibition of activation of Factor X. Intrapulmonary administration (IP) of rFVIIa in DAH is described in small case series with successful hemostasis and minimal complications.MethodsWe completed a single center retrospective descriptive study of treatment with rFVIIa and outcomes in pediatric oncology and HCT patients with pulmonary hemorrhage at a quaternary hematology/oncology hospital between 2011 and 2019. We aimed to assess the safety and survival of patients with pulmonary hemorrhage who received of IP rFVIIa.ResultsWe identified 31 patients with pulmonary hemorrhage requiring ICU care. Thirteen patients received intrapulmonary rFVIIa, while eighteen patients did not. Overall, 13 of 31 patients (41.9%) survived ICU discharge. ICU survival (n=6) amongst those in the IP rFVIIa group was 46.2% compared to 38.9% (n=7) in those who did not receive IP therapy (p=0.69). Hospital survival was 46.2% in the IP group and 27.8% in the non-IP group (p=0.45). There were no adverse events noted from use of IP FVIIa.ConclusionsIntrapulmonary rFVIIa can be safely administered in pediatric oncology patients with pulmonary hemorrhage and should be considered a viable treatment option for these patients

Growth chemistry and electrical performance of ultrathin alumina formed by area selective vapor phase infiltration

The growth chemistry and electrical performance of 5 nm alumina films, fabricated via the area-selective vapor phase infiltration (VPI) of trimethylaluminum into poly(2-vinylpyridine), are compared to a conventional plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) process. The chemical properties are assessed via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, while current – voltage dielectric breakdown and capacitance – voltage analysis is undertaken to provide electrical information of these films for the first time. The success and challenges in dielectric formation via polymer VPI, the compatibility of pyridine in such a role, and the ability of the unique and rapid grafting-to polymer brush method in forming coherent metal oxides is evaluated. It was found that VPI made alumina fabricated at temperatures between 200 and 250 °C had a consistent breakdown electrical field, with the best performing devices possessing a к value of 5.9. The results indicate that the VPI approach allows for the creation of alumina films that display dielectric properties of a comparable quality to conventional PEALD grown films