Theoretical interpretation of GRB 011121

GRB011121 is analyzed as a prototype to understand the ``flares'' recently observed by Swift in the afterglow of many GRB sources. Detailed theoretical computation of the GRB011121 light curves in selected energy bands are presented and compared and contrasted with observational BeppoSAX data.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings of "Swift and GRBs", Venice, 2006, Il Nuovo Cimento, in pres

The Effect of Algorithm Implementation in the Family Practice Setting on the Pain and Recovery of Acute Low Back Pain Patients

Nearly $86 billion is spent annually in healthcare costs for Americans with low back pain (Lee, McAuley, Hübscher, Allen, Kamper, Moseley, 2016). Additionally, the burden on the economy due to loss in productivity incurs approximately$114 billion dollars of lost revenue annually (Lee et. al., 2016). Patients with an acute low back injury inadequately treated may become a chronic issue. Only 50% of patients who experience back pain symptoms for 12 months will return to work (Petit, Fouquet, & Roquelaure, 2015). The purpose of this project will be to implement an evidence-based algorithm to standardize acute low back pain care for providers in a family practice clinic, improve patient recovery outcomes thus preventing chronic back pain. The inclusion criteria for the project are patients at a family practice clinic with an acute low back pain episode presenting within 4 weeks of onset. They must be ages 18 years or older and non-pregnant. An algorithm created from current, high quality clinical guidelines will be implemented for patients presenting with initial onset of acute low back pain by each provider in the clinic to assure continuity of care. Patients’ response in pain and function improvement will be measured using of the Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index via telephone interview on a weekly basis for an eight-week duration or until patient reports return to baseline. A primary aim to prevent acute episodes from becoming chronic issues is utilizing the highest level of evidence-based practice for assessment, treatment, and evaluation (Goertz et. al., 2012). Results demonstrated the use of the standardized algorithm can improve outcomes among patients with acute low back pain in the primary care setting. Replication of this EBP project has been adopted by the project site facility

Determinants of the Generalized Trust Radius in Scripted Fragile Sub-Saharan African States

Trust between strangers does not come easily in collectivist societies governed by coercive institutions and subject to unstable market forces. More than one-third of all states are fragile, yet the trust literature has shown little interest in explaining the variability of generalized trust among them; instead fixating on social capital, the consequence of the expansion of generalized trust, putting the cart before the horse and leaving unexamined many of its causes. The enhanced accuracy of the reconfigured World Values Survey trust question has generated new research opportunities to address this concern. This dissertation advances the trust literature through identifying, measuring, and explaining the full social effect on generalized trust in fragile states through group proximity and civil society power differential. Sociological institutionalism and social capital theory provide the theoretical framework for modeling and explaining structural social effects leading to the improbable expansion of generalized trust in the highly scripted fragile sub-Saharan African states of Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. These purposefully deviant and least likely test cases are examined using within- and cross-case analysis of necessary and sufficient conditions through most similar multiple comparative case analysis, affirming or confirming most hypotheses. The expansion of generalized trust requires sustained and usually incentivized positive inter-group interaction. In fragile states, most inter-group interaction is conflictual and occurs through civil society because individuals have little capital with which to engage in the market and the state is dysfunctional. The generalized trust radius is likely to widen the more proximate and consociational its civil society is, regardless of how fragile the state is. This dissertation enlarges and strengthens the social explanation for generalized trust variability in fragile states, filling a significant gap in the literature and establishing a research design and model for future research to replicate in other fragile regions

The Effect of Algorithm Implementation in the Family Practice Setting on the Pain and Recovery of Acute Low Back Pain Patients

Nearly $86 billion is spent annually in healthcare costs for Americans with low back pain (Lee, McAuley, Hübscher, Allen, Kamper, Moseley, 2016). Additionally, the burden on the economy due to loss in productivity incurs approximately$114 billion dollars of lost revenue annually (Lee et. al., 2016). Patients with an acute low back injury inadequately treated may become a chronic issue. Only 50% of patients who experience back pain symptoms for 12 months will return to work (Petit, Fouquet, & Roquelaure, 2015). The purpose of this project will be to implement an evidence-based algorithm to standardize acute low back pain care for providers in a family practice clinic, improve patient recovery outcomes thus preventing chronic back pain. The inclusion criteria for the project are patients at a family practice clinic with an acute low back pain episode presenting within 4 weeks of onset. They must be ages 18 years or older and non-pregnant. An algorithm created from current, high quality clinical guidelines will be implemented for patients presenting with initial onset of acute low back pain by each provider in the clinic to assure continuity of care. Patients’ response in pain and function improvement will be measured using of the Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index via telephone interview on a weekly basis for an eight-week duration or until patient reports return to baseline. A primary aim to prevent acute episodes from becoming chronic issues is utilizing the highest level of evidence-based practice for assessment, treatment, and evaluation (Goertz et. al., 2012). Results demonstrated the use of the standardized algorithm can improve outcomes among patients with acute low back pain in the primary care setting. Replication of this EBP project has been adopted by the project site facility

Relationship Between Family Communication and Comorbid Diagnoses in Youths Diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder

Research regarding the relationship between family communication and comorbid diagnoses in youths diagnosed with Bipolar Disorders is scarce. Existing research supports the importance of family communication with psychological development of children and adolescents affected by mental illness. The disruptive nature and increased dangers associated with Bipolar Disorders justifies further research. This dissertation study used archival data to answer research hypotheses to gain understanding the relationship between family communication and a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder. General Linear Model analysis and Analysis of Variance were used to test for significant differences in family functioning between families where a youth member had a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder versus varied comorbid diagnoses. Comorbid diagnoses configurations were the independent variables. The diagnoses configurations compared were a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and any other diagnosis on Axis I A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and ADHD A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and Substance Disorder and a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and Substance Disorder. Family functioning was assessed by three dependent variables which were the General Functioning, Problem Solving and Family Communication subscales of the Family Assessment Device (Epstein, Baldwin, & Bishop, 1983). Family communication was not found to be statistically significant for any comorbid combination tested. General functioning and problem solving were statistically significant but small sample sizes prohibit generalizations. Limitations included small sample sizes, individual rather than multiple family member assessment and the omission of nonverbal behaviors as a form of communication. Discussion explores possible factors accounting for insignificance and low sample size

Relationship Between Family Communication and Comorbid Diagnoses in Youths Diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder

Research regarding the relationship between family communication and comorbid diagnoses in youths diagnosed with Bipolar Disorders is scarce. Existing research supports the importance of family communication with psychological development of children and adolescents affected by mental illness. The disruptive nature and increased dangers associated with Bipolar Disorders justifies further research. This dissertation study used archival data to answer research hypotheses to gain understanding the relationship between family communication and a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder. General Linear Model analysis and Analysis of Variance were used to test for significant differences in family functioning between families where a youth member had a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder versus varied comorbid diagnoses. Comorbid diagnoses configurations were the independent variables. The diagnoses configurations compared were a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and any other diagnosis on Axis I A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and ADHD A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and Substance Disorder and a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and Substance Disorder. Family functioning was assessed by three dependent variables which were the General Functioning, Problem Solving and Family Communication subscales of the Family Assessment Device (Epstein, Baldwin, & Bishop, 1983). Family communication was not found to be statistically significant for any comorbid combination tested. General functioning and problem solving were statistically significant but small sample sizes prohibit generalizations. Limitations included small sample sizes, individual rather than multiple family member assessment and the omission of nonverbal behaviors as a form of communication. Discussion explores possible factors accounting for insignificance and low sample size

Relationship Between Family Communication and Comorbid Diagnoses in Youths Diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder

Research regarding the relationship between family communication and comorbid diagnoses in youths diagnosed with Bipolar Disorders is scarce. Existing research supports the importance of family communication with psychological development of children and adolescents affected by mental illness. The disruptive nature and increased dangers associated with Bipolar Disorders justifies further research. This dissertation study used archival data to answer research hypotheses to gain understanding the relationship between family communication and a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder. General Linear Model analysis and Analysis of Variance were used to test for significant differences in family functioning between families where a youth member had a diagnosis of a Bipolar Disorder versus varied comorbid diagnoses. Comorbid diagnoses configurations were the independent variables. The diagnoses configurations compared were a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and any other diagnosis on Axis I A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and ADHD A Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder and Substance Disorder and a Bipolar Disorder only, compared to a Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and Substance Disorder. Family functioning was assessed by three dependent variables which were the General Functioning, Problem Solving and Family Communication subscales of the Family Assessment Device (Epstein, Baldwin, & Bishop, 1983). Family communication was not found to be statistically significant for any comorbid combination tested. General functioning and problem solving were statistically significant but small sample sizes prohibit generalizations. Limitations included small sample sizes, individual rather than multiple family member assessment and the omission of nonverbal behaviors as a form of communication. Discussion explores possible factors accounting for insignificance and low sample size

African American Adults’ Experiences with the Health Care System: In Their Own Words

African Americans suffer a disproportionate burden of death and illness from a number of different chronic diseases. Inequalities in health care practices and poor patient and provider communication between African American patients and health care professionals contribute to these disparities. We describe findings from focus groups with 79 urban African Americans in which the participants discussed their interactions with the healthcare system as well as beliefs and opinions of the healthcare system and professionals. Analysis revealed five major themes: (1) historical and contextual foundations; (2) interpersonal experiences with physicians and other health care workers; (3) discrimination; (4) trust, opinions and attitudes, and (5) improving health care experiences. These findings indicate that perceptions of discrimination and racism were prevalent among African Americans in this study, and that the expectation of a negative interaction is a barrier to seeking care. Authors discuss prevention and public health implications of these findings and make recommendations for health care practitioners