Learning from experience: the case study of a primary school

This thesis is a case study about learning from experience in a primary school. The enquiry applies a psychoanalytic idea in an educational context. The focus arose from Bion’s idea: ‘Container-contained’ (Bion, 1962) which proposes that the capacity to think is emotionally rooted in our first relationship, which informs the qualities of our subsequent ‘learning relationships’ (Youell, 2006). Within a psychosocial, interpretivist framework, research questions ask: How does the learning that children bring to school affect their relationships and learning? How can school provide flexible-enough containment for thinking and learning from experience? What have I learnt about learning from experience? As a researcher/mentor, an interpretation of Bick’s (1964) clinical observational method was deployed to generate data, including written-up observations of four case study children who communicated their stories of everyday events in school during mentoring sessions. An auto/biographical approach complementarily composed part of the methodological bricolage. The inductive method supported evolution of a relational approach to mentoring, permitting reflexive interrogation of the observational texts. Interviews with teachers and parents added a biographical dimension. Mentoring took place during half-hour, weekly, individual mentoring sessions with children over two terms. Findings confirmed that children brought early experiences of learning to school which affected relationships and posed barriers to learning. The research method provided a subjective tool for making unconscious qualities of relationship in the transference and countertransference between researcher, children and adults at an institutional level, explicit. RefIexive interrogation illumined the interrelationship between researcher and children’s learning. Findings showed a need for flexible boundaries for supporting children’s self-efficacy and personal agency, and teacher’s learning about learning, when school is seen as a ‘container’. Findings confirmed the need for time and space for children and adults to reflect on experience in school, towards fostering emotional well-being and the capacity to think and learn

Investigation of environmental effects on coatings for thermal control

Accomplishments made during study of coatings are reported. Development of structure/property theory for selecting most appropriate pigments for space vehicle paints is discussed along with improvements made in zinc-oxide pigmented potassium silicate paint

Development of a space stable thermal control coatings for use in large space vehicles

The preparation and evaluation of zinc orthotitanate and of several new pigments and the environmental testing and evaluation of these pigments and of coatings made from them constitute the bulk of the work accomplished. New pigments were prepared and EPR spectra of pigments and their precursor compounds studied. Results of extensive testing of commercially-available, strippable, protective coatings are reported; Owens-Illinois 650 glass resin has been stabilized against progressive mechanical failures; and definite improvements have been noted. A zinc oxide pigmented lithium silicate paint has demonstrated very good ultraviolet stability

Development of space stable thermal control coatings for use on large space vehicles

The evaluation and environmental testing of zinc orthotitanate pigments for use as space stable thermal control coatings on large space vehicles are discussed. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the pigments and their precursor compounds are examined. A continuing study of the spectral intensity of mercury-argon and mercury-xenon sources in reported. Results of long term environmental testing of commercially available, strippable, protective coatings are discussed

Supporting women with postpartum anxiety: exploring views and experiences of specialist community public health nurses in the UK

Anxiety is common among postpartum women and can have adverse effects on mother's and child's somatic and psychological health if left untreated. In the UK, nurses or midwifes with a specialisation in community public health nursing, also called health visitors (HVs), work with families who have children younger than 5 years of age and are therefore in a key position to identify and support women with postpartum mental health issues. Until recently, postpartum mental health support provided by HVs mainly focused on identifying and managing depression, but the updated clinical guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also includes guidance regarding screening and psychological interventions for perinatal anxiety. This study therefore aimed to explore HVs' experiences of supporting women with postpartum anxiety and their views on currently available care. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 HVs from the UK between May and October 2015. Participants were interviewed in person at their workplace or on the phone/Skype. Using thematic analysis, four main themes emerged: identification and screening issues; importance of training; service usage; and status of current service provision. Women with postpartum anxiety were commonly encountered by HVs in their clinical practice and described as often heavily using their or other related healthcare services, which puts additional strain on HVs' already heavy workload. Issues with identifying and screening for postpartum anxiety were raised and the current lack of perinatal mental health training for HVs was highlighted. In addition, HVs described a current lack of good perinatal mental health services in general and specifically for anxiety. The study highlights the need for HV perinatal mental health training in general and postpartum anxiety specifically, as well as better coverage of specialist mental health services and the need for development of interventions targeted at postpartum anxiety

Interest in web-based treatments for postpartum anxiety: an exploratory survey

Objective: This study aimed to explore women’s interest in web-based treatments for postpartum anxiety and determine the feasibility of reaching women with postpartum anxiety online. Background: Anxiety in the postpartum period is common and often untreated. One innovative approach of offering treatment during this period is through web-based self-help. Assessing women’s interest in new treatments, such as a web-based self-help, is an important step prior to development efforts. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was created and promoted for 4 months via unpaid social media posts (Facebook and Twitter). To be eligible, women had to be over the age of 18, live in England, fluent in English, be within 12 months postpartum and self-report at least mild levels of anxiety. Results: A sample of 114 eligible women were recruited. The majority were Caucasian, well-educated, middle-class women. Seventy percent reported moderate or severe anxiety. Sixty-one percent of women expressed interest in web-based postpartum anxiety treatments. Women preferred treatment in a smartphone/tablet application format, presented in brief modules and supported by a therapist via email or chat/instant messaging. Conclusions: Based on the stated preferences of participating women it is recommended that postpartum anxiety web-based treatments include different forms of therapist support and use a flexibly accessible smartphone/tablet application format with content split into short sections. The findings also suggest that unpaid social media can be feasible in reaching women with postpartum anxiety, but additional efforts are needed to reach a more diverse population

Clinical Characterization of Alzheimer's Disease: Reliability of 'Age at Onset' and a New Descriptor, 'Age at Shift'

To determine the interrater reliability of clinical descriptors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), we assessed the degree of agree ment among four clinicians who rated 21 patients during a longitudinal study. Despite variability in response patterns, degree of agreement for determining age at onset of dementia was statistically significant (P < 0.005). We also found significant agreement (P < 0.0001) among three clinicians for the clinical descriptor, "age at shift" from questionable to probable AD, according to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Criteria. These data demonstrate that both retro spective and prospective descriptors can be reliably determined in the clinical assessment of AD. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1988;1:207-211).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68908/2/10.1177_089198878800100404.pd

Age and Growth of Scotia Sea Icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus, From the South Shetland Islands

Samples of Chaenocephalus aceratus (Lönnberg) were collected during a trawl survey carried out around the South Shetland Islands in January–February 2002. Fish were caught by commercial bottom trawl fishing down to 500 m depth, using a stratified randomized sampling design. As observed in other recent surveys within the same area, C. aceratus represented one of the predominant species. Overall, 357 specimens ranging from 13 and 67 cm (TL) were selected for the present study. Ages were estimated by counting annuli present in the sagittal otoliths, exposed by grinding and polishing along their sagittal plane. To estimate the precision of age data, we compared blind readings by readers from different institutions. The age range was 1–17 years for females and 1–15 years for males. Von Bertalanffy growth curves were fitted to the estimated age-length data for each sex. The estimated values of asymptotic length L∞ (cm) and K (year-1) were respectively 79.8 and 0.07 for females and 60.0 and 0.09 for males. The growth performance index ranged between 2 and 2.5, similar to that reported in other icefish. Sexual maturity was attained by females and males at about 10 and 9 years old respectively, at about 60% of their maximum estimated age. These results are compared with age and growth data available in the literature for C. aceratus, and discussed in the light of recent commercial exploitation

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Web-Based Treatment with Telephone Support for Postpartum Women With Anxiety: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Postpartum anxiety can have adverse effects on the mother and child if left untreated. Time constraints and stigma are common barriers to postpartum treatment. Web-based treatments offer potential flexibility and anonymity. What Am I Worried About (WaWa) is a self-guided treatment based on cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness principles for women experiencing postpartum anxiety. WaWa was developed in Australia and consists of 9 modules with optional weekly telephone support. WaWa was adapted to a Web-based version for use in England (Internet-based What Am I Worried About, iWaWa). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility (engagement and usability) and acceptability (usefulness, satisfaction, and helpfulness) of iWaWa among English postpartum women with anxiety. METHODS: Postpartum (<12 months) women with mild-to-severe anxiety were recruited anonymously via social media during an 8-week period. Participants were randomized to the iWaWa treatment (8 weeks) or wait-list control group. Treatment and study feasibility and acceptability were assessed after the treatment, and anxiety symptoms were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks postrandomization, and 12 weeks postrandomization (treatment group only) using Web-based questionnaires. Semistructured telephone interviews were carried out after the treatment period for a more in-depth exploration of treatment acceptability and feasibility. RESULTS: A total of 89 eligible women were recruited through social media and randomized into the treatment (n=46) or wait-list control group (n=43). Women were predominantly Caucasian, well-educated, married, on maternity leave, first-time mothers and reported moderate levels of anxiety. Dropout rates were high, especially in the treatment group (treatment: 82%, 38/46; wait-list control: 51%, 22/43). A total of 26 women started iWaWa with only 2 women completing all 9 modules. Quantitative and qualitative data suggest iWaWa was experienced as generally useful and helpful. Participants enjoyed iWaWa's accessibility, anonymity, and weekly reminders, as well as the introduction to the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. However, iWaWa was also experienced as not user-friendly enough, too long, and not smartphone-friendly. Parts of the content were experienced as not always relevant and appropriate. Participants felt that iWaWa could be improved by having it in a smartphone app format and by making the content more concise and inclusive of different parenting styles. CONCLUSIONS: Despite interest in iWaWa, the results suggest that both the study and iWaWa were not feasible in the current format. However, this first trial provides useful evidence about treatment format and content preferences that can inform iWaWa's future development, as well as research and development of Web-based postpartum anxiety treatments, in general, to optimize adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02434406; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02434406 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xTq7Bwmd)

Internet-based interventions for postpartum anxiety: exploring health visitors’ views

Objective: This study aimed to explore health visitors’ (HVs) views on the acceptability and potential implementation of internet-based postpartum anxiety interventions in their practice. Background: Internet-based self-help has been shown to be effective and acceptable for postpartum depression. Recently, an internet-based intervention has been developed for postpartum anxiety. Before implementing new anxiety interventions in postpartum care, it is important to determine the acceptability and ways of implementing such interventions. This study therefore explored HVs’ views on this, as they are the some of the key healthcare professionals supporting women postpartum. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 HVs across the UK. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five themes emerged – suitability; benefits; concerns; importance of one-to-one support; implementation. Internet-based interventions were seen as suitable as an additional option for a sub-group of postpartum women. Identified benefits included increased availability of a treatment tool for postpartum anxiety and treatment anonymity and flexibility. Reported concerns were the women’s state of mind, decreased human and professional contact, as well as IT access and literacy and language skills. HVs considered the most feasible way to implement internet-based interventions would be to have flyers for HVs to include with other information provided after birth or to hand out and discuss during their visits. The need for sufficient evidence of treatment efficacy and appropriate training was highlighted. Conclusion: This study highlights the opportunities and challenges that need to be considered before implementing internet-based interventions for postpartum anxiety in the postpartum care