Regional division of snow-depositional environments and metamorphism of snow cover in plain areas along the Japan Sea coast

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the division of snow-depositional environments based on certain snow characteristics observed in plain areas along the Japan Sea coast. Snow surveys carried out during the two winter monsoon seasons in 1986 and 1988, permitted the measurement of snow depth, the water equivalent of snow, snow stratigraphy, snow type, snow temperature and Ram hardness. The areas were divided into 11 regions according to significant changes in snow cover characteristics. Most of the boundaries between the regions were consistent with the topographical features, such as mountain ranges, peninsulas and bays, which suggests that the characteristics of snow cover are controlled not only by meteorological conditions after snow deposition but also by the regional characteristics of snowfall phenomena. By comparing the observed snow type with meteorological data, two indexes for indicating the degree of snow metamorphism were introduced. A snow metamorphism diagram showing the relationships between the predominant typeof snow metamorphism and meteorological conditions was constructed by use of the indexes

Psychological care for victims of recent rape: an exploration of early intervention for reducing the risk of PTSD

As of 2018, sixteen sexual assault centres (SACs) exist in the Netherlands. Chapter 2 describes the formation of these centres and how their services are provided. Between 2016 and 2020, over 7,000 victims were served by the SACs within 7 days after the assault. The main strengths of the SACs were determined to be the 24/7 accessibility and the close collaboration with the police. However, the outreach towards non-female victims and other minority groups is in need of evaluation. Moreover, lack of funding threatens the consistency in quality of care across centres. In Chapter 3, we analysed the data of 34 male victims who were referred to the SAC within seven days post-assault, and compared their characteristics and service use to those of female victims. We found no differences between genders in age, use of mental health services, or in any assault characteristics. However, we found that male victims were less likely to get in contact with the police relative to female victims. Yet, for victims who were in contact with the police, we found no gender differences in police reporting or the prevalence of forensic medical examinations. Initiating psychological interventions within the first months after sexual assault may help to prevent the development of PTSD. In Chapter 4, a meta-analysis was performed to determine the efficacy of early interventions for post-traumatic stress. No differences were found in post-traumatic stress symptoms between those who received early intervention and those who received standard care at the first assessment after treatment. However, the early interventions were more efficacious than standard care at the last assessments. Chapter 5 described the study protocol of the Early EMDR study that aimed to examine the efficacy of early intervention using EMDR therapy for reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms in victims of rape. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either two sessions of EMDR therapy or standard care in the first month after rape. Standard care entailed psychological services of the SAC. Chapter 6 describes the results of this RCT. Although post-traumatic stress symptoms decreased significantly over time, there was no difference between conditions. Symptoms of anxiety and dissociation were significantly lower for those in the EMDR condition than those in the standard care condition at post-treatment and 8-weeks assessments, but this effect disappeared at the 12-week follow-up. Moreover, symptoms of general psychopathology, depression, pelvic floor overactivity (PFO), sexual dysfunction, guilt and shame did not differ between conditions at any assessment. Chapter 7 assessed potential predictors of the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms after rape. Several pre-existing, peritraumatic, and post-traumatic factors were assessed. Early symptoms of post-traumatic stress and persistent dissociation predicted post-traumatic stress severity across 12 weeks. Chapter 8 analysed the relationship between early symptoms of post-traumatic stress, sexual dysfunction, and PFO. At two weeks after rape, higher post-traumatic stress severity was related to more symptoms of sexual dysfunction and PFO. Lower post-traumatic stress severity after 12 weeks was related to more recovery in sexual dysfunction. In contrast, PFO reduced regardless of post-traumatic stress severity

Preparación y caracterización de microesferas magmáticas de poliestireno mediante una técnica de emulsión múltiple.

Las microesferas magmáticas encuentran diversas aplicaciones en medicina y biotecnología como portadores magneto-dirigibles de fármacos y en la separación y aislamiento de objetos biológicos, entre otros. La ventaja del empleo de las partículas magmáticas para este tipo de separaciones consiste en la disminución del tiempo empleado en ellas y en la facilidad para su aislamiento mediante un imán una vez concluido el proceso. Se presenta un método de obtención de microesferas magmáticas de poliestireno utilizando una emulsión múltiple agua-en aceite-en agua. En este método la fase acuosa interna consiste en una dispersión coloidal de partículas de magnetita superparamagnéticas; la fase oleosa se compone de poliestireno disuelto en diclorometano y la fase acuosa externa es una disolución de alcohol polivinflico en agua Se evidencia que las condiciones de obtención tales como la concentración de magnetita en la fase acuosa interna y la cantidad de disolvente volátil en la fase oleosa tienen una marcada influencia sobre la eficiencia de encapsulación y las dimensiones delas microesferas. Las microesferas de poliestireno obtenidas contienen la magnetita dispersada dentro de la matriz polimérica, por lo que conservan su carácter superparamagnético. Cálculos basados en la curva de magnetización inicial indican que las partículas de magnetita contenidas en las microesferas tienen un tamaño promedio semejante al del ferrofluido de partida (Do = 6,4 nm)

Early intervention with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms in recent rape victims: a randomized controlled trial

Background About 40% of rape victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within three months after the assault. Considering the high personal and societal impact of PTSD, there is an urgent need for early (i.e. within three months after the incident) interventions to reduce post-traumatic stress in victims of rape. Objective To assess the effectiveness of early intervention with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress, feelings of guilt and shame, sexual dysfunction, and other psychological dysfunction (i.e. general psychopathology, anxiety, depression, and dissociative symptoms) in victims of rape. Method This randomized controlled trial included 57 victims of rape, who were randomly allocated to either two sessions of EMDR therapy or treatment as usual (‘watchful waiting’) between 14 and 28 days post-rape. Psychological symptoms were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 8 and 12 weeks post-rape. Linear mixed models and ANCOVAs were used to analyse differences between conditions over time. Results Within-group effect sizes of the EMDR condition (d = 0.89 to 1.57) and control condition (d = 0.79 to 1.54) were large, indicating that both conditions were effective. However, EMDR therapy was not found to be more effective than watchful waiting in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms, general psychopathology, depression, sexual dysfunction, and feelings of guilt and shame. Although EMDR therapy was found to be more effective than watchful waiting in reducing anxiety and dissociative symptoms in the post-treatment assessment, this effect disappeared over time. Conclusions The findings do not support the notion that early intervention with EMDR therapy in victims of rape is more effective than watchful waiting for the reduction of psychological symptoms, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Further research on the effectiveness of early interventions, including watchful waiting, for this specific target group is needed

Early Intervention with Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy to Reduce the Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Recent Rape Victims: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial

It is estimated that more than 40% of rape victims develops a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a statistic that is relatively high compared to other types of trauma. PTSD can affect the victims' psychological, sexual, and physical health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for early interventions to prevent the onset of PTSD in this target group. This randomised controlled trial (RCT) examines the efficacy of early Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy aimed to reduce the severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms in victims of recent rape. Subjects (N = 34) are individuals of 16 years and older who present themselves within 7 days post-rape at one of the four participating Sexual Assault Centres in the Netherlands. The intervention consists of two sessions of EMDR therapy between day 14 and 28 post-rape, while the control group receives treatment as usual, consisting of careful monitoring of stress reactions by a case-manager across two contacts during 1-month post-rape. Baseline assessment, posttreatment assessment and follow-up assessments at 8 and 12-weeks post-rape will be used to assess the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In addition, the efficacy of the intervention on psychological and sexual functioning will be determined. Linear mixed model analysis will be used to explore the differences within and between the EMDR group and control group at the various time points. The results of this RCT may help the dissemination and application of evidence-based preventative treatments for PTSD after rape

OVERCOMING A CONCEPT. OR: FINDING ANNA. - An essay on one person's artistic process of creating one film.

I made a film. And after that I wrote an essay about the process. The process was about letting go. The film was supposed to be about truth. But in the end it wasn't. It was about humankind. Because humans are weird. (It is a dance film). In the process of creating this film I listened to my intuition a lot. I learnt a lot. I read a few books. Took some courses. Talked to some people. I had a lot of fun. I discovered I am not lazy. And I found my artistic voice