Higher-dimensional solitons and black holes with a non-minimally coupled scalar field

We study higher-dimensional soliton and hairy black hole solutions of the Einstein equations non-minimally coupled to a scalar field. The scalar field has no self-interaction potential but a cosmological constant is included. Non-trivial solutions exist only when the cosmological constant is negative and the constant governing the coupling of the scalar field to the Ricci scalar curvature is positive. At least some of these solutions are stable when this coupling constant is not too large.Comment: 17 pages, revtex4, 21 figures, minor changes to match published versio

Promises and Pitfalls of Metal Imaging in Biology

A picture may speak a thousand words, but if those words fail to form a coherent sentence there is little to be learned. As cutting-edge imaging technology now provides us the tools to decipher the multitude of roles played by metals and metalloids in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, as well as health and disease, it is time to reflect on the advances made in imaging, the limitations discovered, and the future of a burgeoning field. In this Perspective, the current state-of-the-art is discussed from a self-imposed contrarian position, as we not only highlight the major advances made of the years but use them as teachable moments to zoom in on challenges that remain to be overcome. We also describe the steps being taken towards being able to paint a completely undisturbed picture of cellular metal metabolism, which is, metaphorically speaking, the Holy Grail of the discipline

Evaluation of the personal health budget pilot programme

1. The personal health budget initiative is a key aspect of personalisation across health care services in England. Its aim is to improve patient outcomes, by placing patients at the centre of decisions about their care. Giving people greater choice and control, with patients working alongside health service professionals to develop and execute a care plan, given a known budget, is intended to encourage more responsiveness of the health and care system. 2. The personal health budget programme was launched by the Department of Health in 2009 after the publication of the 2008 Next Stage Review. An independent evaluation was commissioned alongside the pilot programme with the aim of identifying whether personal health budgets ensured better health and care outcomes when compared to conventional service delivery and, if so, the best way for personal health budgets to be implemented

How Follow-Up Counselling Increases Linkage to Care Among HIV-Positive Persons Identified Through Home-Based HIV Counselling and Testing: A Qualitative Study in Uganda

We investigated how follow-up counselling had increased linkage to HIV care in a trial of referral to care and follow-up counseling, compared to referral to care only, for participants diagnosed as HIV-positive through home-based HIV counseling and testing. We carried out a cross-sectional qualitative study. Using random stratified sampling, we selected 43 trial participants (26 [60%] in the intervention arm). Sample stratification was by sex, distance to an ART facility, linkage, and nonlinkage to HIV care. Twenty-six in-depth interviews were conducted with participants in the intervention arm: 17 people who had linked to HIV care and 9 who had not linked after 6 months of follow-up. Home-based follow-up counseling helped to overcome worries resulting from an HIV-positive test result. In addition, the counseling offered an opportunity to address questions on HIV treatment side effects, share experiences of intimate partner violence or threats, and general problems linking to care. The counselling encouraged early linkage to HIV care and use of biomedical medicines, discouraging alternative medicine usage. Home-based follow-up counseling also helped to promote HIV sero-status disclosure, facilitating linkage to, retention in and adherence to HIV care and treatment. This study successfully demonstrated that home-based follow-up counselling increased linkage to care through encouragement to seek care, provision of accurate information about HIV care services and supporting the person living with HIV to disclose and manage stigma. </jats:p

Analysing Rural-Urban Disparity in Access to Safe Toilet in Nigeria

This study examines the socio-economic determinants of access to safe toilet facilities in Nigerian households. It also investigates the factors responsible for rural-urban disparity in accessing safe toilets among Nigerians. It uses the 2013 Demographic Health Survey (DHS) on Nigeria for all the analyses. Binary and Ordered Probit Regressions Models as well as Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition were used to determined factors affecting access to safe toilet facilities in the country. The results shows that, households head age, marital status, gender, household size, education, wealth index, locations, ethnicity and geopolitical variations are the significant determinants of households’ access to safe toilets in Nigeria. While, household size, rural locality, zones, gender, and lower wealth index have negative impacts; households head age, marital status, ethnicity and education level, have positive effects on the households’ access to safe toilets in the country. Secondly, differences in the age of households head, household size, wealth index, gender, zones and marital status are the factors responsible for the rural-urban variation in access to safe toilets in Nigeria. The study recommends poverty reduction programmes, public-private partnership, provision of public toilets, rural development, educational improvement, cultural and value re-orientation and social security programme among others as measures to improve access to safe toilet facilities in the country. Keywords:Safe toilets, socioeconomic, probit, Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition and socio-economic development

Computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression in adolescents : feasibility results and 4-month outcomes of a UK randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Computer-administered cognitive-behavioural therapy (CCBT) may be a promising treatment for adolescents with depression, particularly due to its increased availability and accessibility. The feasibility of delivering a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing a CCBT program (Stressbusters) with an attention control (self-help websites) for adolescent depression was evaluated. DESIGN: Single centre RCT feasibility study. SETTING: The trial was run within community and clinical settings in York, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (aged 12-18) with low mood/depression were assessed for eligibility, 91 of whom met the inclusion criteria and were consented and randomised to Stressbusters (n=45) or websites (n=46) using remote computerised single allocation. Those with comorbid physical illness were included but those with psychosis, active suicidality or postnatal depression were not. INTERVENTIONS: An eight-session CCBT program (Stressbusters) designed for use with adolescents with low mood/depression was compared with an attention control (accessing low mood self-help websites). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed mood and quality of life measures and a service Use Questionnaire throughout completion of the trial and 4 months post intervention. Measures included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (primary outcome measure), Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ), Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), the EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (youth) (EQ-5D-Y) and Health Utility Index Mark 2 (HUI-2). Changes in self-reported measures and completion rates were assessed by treatment group. RESULTS: From baseline to 4 months post intervention, BDI scores and MFQ scores decreased for the Stressbusters group but increased in the website group. Quality of life, as measured by the EQ-5D-Y, increased for both groups while costs at 4 months were similar to baseline. Good feasibility outcomes were found, suggesting the trial process to be feasible and acceptable for adolescents with depression. CONCLUSIONS: With modifications, a fully powered RCT is achievable to investigate a promising treatment for adolescent depression in a climate where child mental health service resources are limited. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN31219579