Carers matter: promoting the inclusion of families within acute inpatient settings

Despite their important contributions, many carers report feeling excluded by mental health services. Admission to a psychiatric ward can be a traumatic experience for both clients and their carers. Inpatient teams play a crucial role in engaging families but they report a lack of time, skills and confidence. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of introducing a family service across three acute wards. This comprised staff training, individual carer support and family intervention (FI). The service was found to be acceptable and feasible to implement. Family meetings on the ward increased following staff training, along with reported confidence in working with families. Following FI, significant improvements were found in carer distress, wellbeing, burden and negative illness perceptions and more carers reported having someone to confide in. The total number of ward complaints decreased following introduction of the service. Despite the difficulties implementing family work on the wards, it remains highly indicated. This pilot has shown it is possible to implement an effective and much needed service in an acute setting

Quantitative localized proton-promoted dissolution kinetics of calcite using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM)

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to determine quantitatively the kinetics of proton-promoted dissolution of the calcite (101̅4) cleavage surface (from natural “Iceland Spar”) at the microscopic scale. By working under conditions where the probe size is much less than the characteristic dislocation spacing (as revealed from etching), it has been possible to measure kinetics mainly in regions of the surface which are free from dislocations, for the first time. To clearly reveal the locations of measurements, studies focused on cleaved “mirror” surfaces, where one of the two faces produced by cleavage was etched freely to reveal defects intersecting the surface, while the other (mirror) face was etched locally (and quantitatively) using SECM to generate high proton fluxes with a 25 μm diameter Pt disk ultramicroelectrode (UME) positioned at a defined (known) distance from a crystal surface. The etch pits formed at various etch times were measured using white light interferometry to ascertain pit dimensions. To determine quantitative dissolution kinetics, a moving boundary finite element model was formulated in which experimental time-dependent pit expansion data formed the input for simulations, from which solution and interfacial concentrations of key chemical species, and interfacial fluxes, could then be determined and visualized. This novel analysis allowed the rate constant for proton attack on calcite, and the order of the reaction with respect to the interfacial proton concentration, to be determined unambiguously. The process was found to be first order in terms of interfacial proton concentration with a rate constant k = 6.3 (± 1.3) × 10–4 m s–1. Significantly, this value is similar to previous macroscopic rate measurements of calcite dissolution which averaged over large areas and many dislocation sites, and where such sites provided a continuous source of steps for dissolution. Since the local measurements reported herein are mainly made in regions without dislocations, this study demonstrates that dislocations and steps that arise from such sites are not needed for fast proton-promoted calcite dissolution. Other sites, such as point defects, which are naturally abundant in calcite, are likely to be key reaction sites

An examination of the Michigan 2010 motor vehicle traffic crash fatality increase

In 2010, national fatal crash counts went down by 3.5%, following on the heels of substantial drops in 2008 and 2009. However, in Michigan, fatal crashes were down substantially in 2009, but up by nearly 8% in 2010. This report contains an in-depth look at the patterns associated with Michigan’s fatal crash increase in 2010. In particular, we present a time series analysis of fatal-crash trends over the last 40 years. In addition, we provide breakdowns of crash subcategories, focusing on alcohol and drug use by drivers, commercial vehicles, young and elderly drivers, motorcycles, and construction-zone crashes. Finally, we compare the pattern in Michigan to the patterns of fatal crashes for three other states. The primary result of these analyses is that 2009 was unusually low in fatal crashes and 2010 represents a return to normal numbers. That said, fatal-crash-involved drivers testing positive for blood THC have more than doubled in 2010. In addition, construction zone crashes have increased, though the base numbers are too low to determine whether the increase is significant. Motorcycle fatalities showed large increases in 2010, especially in collisions with other motor vehicles. In the multi-state comparison, the nearest state, Wisconsin, showed the same 2009 decrease and 2010 increase in total crashes, while more distant states of Idaho and Missouri showed steady decreases. These results are consistent with regional trends reported by NHTSA. The four states showed similar results with steady decreases in overall crashes and steady increases in drug-related fatal crashes.Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planninghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89936/1/102816.pd

Kinematics and hydrodynamics of spinning particles

In the first part (Sections 1 and 2) of this paper --starting from the Pauli current, in the ordinary tensorial language-- we obtain the decomposition of the non-relativistic field velocity into two orthogonal parts: (i) the "classical part, that is, the 3-velocity w = p/m OF the center-of-mass (CM), and (ii) the so-called "quantum" part, that is, the 3-velocity V of the motion IN the CM frame (namely, the internal "spin motion" or zitterbewegung). By inserting such a complete, composite expression of the velocity into the kinetic energy term of the non-relativistic classical (i.e., newtonian) lagrangian, we straightforwardly get the appearance of the so-called "quantum potential" associated, as it is known, with the Madelung fluid. This result carries further evidence that the quantum behaviour of micro-systems can be adirect consequence of the fundamental existence of spin. In the second part (Sections 3 and 4), we fix our attention on the total 3-velocity v = w + V, it being now necessary to pass to relativistic (classical) physics; and we show that the proper time entering the definition of the four-velocity v^mu for spinning particles has to be the proper time tau of the CM frame. Inserting the correct Lorentz factor into the definition of v^mu leads to completely new kinematical properties for v_mu v^mu. The important constraint p_mu v^mu = m, identically true for scalar particles, but just assumed a priori in all previous spinning particle theories, is herein derived in a self-consistent way.Comment: LaTeX file; needs kapproc.st

Literacy practices of primary education children in Andalusia (Spain): a family-based perspective

Primary school children develop literacy practices in various domains and situations in everyday life. This study focused on the analysis of literacy practices of children aged 8–12 years from the perspec- tive of their families. 1,843 families participated in the non-experimental explanatory study. The children in these families speak Spanish as a first language and are schooled in this language. The instrument used was a self-report questionnaire about children’s home-literacy practices. The data obtained were analysed using categorical principal components analysis (CATPCA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show the complex relationship between literacy practices developed by children in the domains of home and school and the limited development of a literacy-promoting ‘third space’. In conclusion, the families in our study had limited awareness of their role as literacy- promoting agents and thought of literacy learning as restricted to formal or academic spaces

Group cognitive analytic music therapy: a quasi-experimental feasibility study conducted in a high secure hospital

This study conducted a feasibility patient preference quasi-experimental study of group cognitive analytic music therapy (G-CAMT) for mentally disordered offenders. Participants either chose or were randomised to 16 sessions of manualised G-CAMT (N = 10) plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone (N = 10). Self-rated and staff-rated outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 8-weeks post-intervention. Residency was assessed at 2-year follow-up. Results indicate that G-CAMT was easily implemented; 9/10 participants completed G-CAMT and attendees had high satisfaction with the approach. Session attendance was high; 4/10 participants attended all sessions. At the 8-week follow-up, 3/9 G-CAMT participants had reliable reductions (i.e. statistically reliable pre to 8-week follow-up change results) in intrusive/possessive behaviours and fear of separation/abandonment. On the staff-rated outcome measure G-CAMT participants as a group were statistically significantly friendlier compared to TAU at 8-week follow-up (U = 0.50, p = 0.009, d = 1.92, CI 0.44 to 3.11). There were no differences between the arms in terms of residency outcomes at 2-year follow-up. The study is discussed in terms of G-CAMT’s theoretical grounding and high acceptability. The study is limited by its small sample size, but indicates the possibility of progressing onto a full trial

Ethical issues in the use of in-depth interviews: literature review and discussion

This paper reports a literature review on the topic of ethical issues in in-depth interviews. The review returned three types of article: general discussion, issues in particular studies, and studies of interview-based research ethics. Whilst many of the issues discussed in these articles are generic to research ethics, such as confidentiality, they often had particular manifestations in this type of research. For example, privacy was a significant problem as interviews sometimes probe unexpected areas. For similar reasons, it is difficult to give full information of the nature of a particular interview at the outset, hence informed consent is problematic. Where a pair is interviewed (such as carer and cared-for) there are major difficulties in maintaining confidentiality and protecting privacy. The potential for interviews to harm participants emotionally is noted in some papers, although this is often set against potential therapeutic benefit. As well as these generic issues, there are some ethical issues fairly specific to in-depth interviews. The problem of dual role is noted in many papers. It can take many forms: an interviewer might be nurse and researcher, scientist and counsellor, or reporter and evangelist. There are other specific issues such as taking sides in an interview, and protecting vulnerable groups. Little specific study of the ethics of in-depth interviews has taken place. However, that which has shows some important findings. For example, one study shows participants are not averse to discussing painful issues provided they feel the study is worthwhile. Some papers make recommendations for researchers. One such is that they should consider using a model of continuous (or process) consent rather than viewing consent as occurring once, at signature, prior to the interview. However, there is a need for further study of this area, both philosophical and empirical

Photodetachment study of He^- quartet resonances below the He(n=3) thresholds

The photodetachment cross section of He^- has been measured in the photon energy range 2.9 eV to 3.3 eV in order to investigate doubly excited states. Measurements were made channel specific by selectively detecting the residual He atoms left in a particular excited state following detachment. Three Feshbach resonances were found in the He(1s2p ^3P)+e^-(epsilon p) partial cross section: a ^4S resonance below the He(1s3s ^3S) threshold and two ^4P resonances below the He(1s3p ^3P) threshold. The measured energies of these doubly excited states are 2.959260(6) eV, 3.072(7) eV and 3.26487(4) eV. The corresponding widths are found to be 0.20(2) meV, 50(5) meV and 0.61(5) meV. The measured energies agree well with recent theoretical predictions for the 1s3s4s ^4S, 1s3p^2 ^4P and 1s3p4p ^4P states, respectively, but the widths deviate noticeably from calculations for 1s3p^2 ^4P and 1s3p4p ^4P states.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX2e scrartcl, amsmath. Accepted by Journal of Physics B; minor changes after referee repor