Cultural Influences on Psychiatrists' Constructions of Mental Health Problems: a Repertory Grid Study

Background: The literature suggests that people from different cultures make sense of their experiences in different ways, including how they understand mental health problems. Much of this research focused on how clients from different cultures understand their mental health problems. There are a few studies on clinicians’ construal of clients. There appears to be a lack of research looking at how clinicians from various ethnicities construe clients from different ethnicities. Aims: The research explored whether psychiatrists from different ethnicities have different ways of understanding clients of similar or different ethnic background to themselves. Additionally, differences in the ways in which psychiatrists from different ethnicities construe clients and people significant to them in their personal lives were explored. Method: Using a cross-sectional approach, within subject and between-subject designs were employed. Seventeen Trainee Psychiatrists were recruited from various academic settings. Repertory grid technique was used to elicit significant people in the participant’s life and clients they have worked with as well as constructs, on which all the elements were rated. Results: The study showed that the participants did not find clients of the same ethnicity more meaningful, similar to themselves or easier to understand than the clients of a different ethnicity. However, it was found that the participants were more conflicted in their construing of clients of a different ethnicity. The case examples showed differences in the ways that psychiatrists from different ethnicities make sense of clients. Conclusions: In a novel study that used repertory grid technique to explore an ethnically diverse group of psychiatrists’ construing of clients, the findings highlight the implicit processes that can influence clinical practice when clinicians encounter clients from diverse ethnic backgrounds. In light of working cross-culturally as clinicians, the study addresses the need to acknowledge the impact of cultural differences; through reflection, consultation, and training

Structural and Functional Characterisation of Glutathione-S-Transferases to Combat Multiple Herbicide Resistance in Black Grass (Alopecurus myosuroides)

Black grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is one of the most common weeds in Western Europe. With the increasing use of herbicides, in response to pressure to produce higher crop yields, incidences of multiple herbicide resistance have been widely reported. Previous work in this area has identified a phi class glutathione-s-transferase, AmGSTF1, as playing a causative role in this multiple herbicide resistance. Two classes of inhibitor have previously been identified: the first CNBF, a multi drug resistance drug; and the second a group of flavone compounds identified from ligand fishing experiments. These have been shown to have activity in vitro inhibiting the action of AmGSTF1 and in vivo against multiple herbicide resistant black grass. However, little was known about their mode of action. This work has focussed on investigating the interactions between these inhibitors and AmGSTF1 using crystallographic, biochemical and complementary biophysical techniques. Apo AmGSTF1 has successfully been crystallised, with the structure solved to 1.5 Å. In addition a structure has been solved to 2.0 Å with CNBF covalently modifying the Cys120 residue. For both these structures the crystal packing results in loops in the active site region being disordered as well as preventing small molecule binding within the active site. In order to determine the complete structure, a series of mutants were designed to alter crystal packing. The structure of these were determined, and they adopt a different packing arrangement which results in the previously disordered loops being ordered, as well as exposing the binding site. The structure of the F122T mutant was used for in silico modelling to determine the likely binding site for flavonoid ligands. The mutants were subsequently used for seeding and soaking experiments which allowed for a complete structure of wild type AmGSTF1 to be determined in complex with a glutathione conjugate of CNBF in the active site. This structure gives a significantly better understanding of the mode of action of these inhibitors, in addition to allowing for the possibility of future development of the inhibitors using structure based design

Ebola virus disease: assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of nursing students of a Nigerian University

Background: Ebola virus disease has a high case fatality rate. Health care providers have a key role to play in its management and prevention.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Ebola virus disease (EVD) among students of Nursing in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A semi-structured,self-administered questionnaire was administered to 178 nursing students. The respondents were selected using systematic random sampling.Results: Lecturers were the commonest source of information regarding EVD as reported by 84.5% of the respondents followed by television (76.3%). Nearly 27% of respondents indicated that the fear of EVD had dampened their interest and enthusiasm in the nursing profession. Nearly 12 % indicated that they would not take part as theatre nurses in the surgical operation of a patient who had been certified cured of EVD. A similar proportion indicated their unwillingness to attend to a woman in labour even if she had been certified cured of EVD.Conclusion: Majority of the students were knowledgeable about EVD. Although majority of them had favorable attitude towards EVD patients, there was evidence of stigmatizing and discriminatory attitude that needs to be addressed.Keywords: Ebola, infection, virus, disease, haemorrhagic, fever, Nigeria

Ebola virus disease: assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of nursing students of a Nigerian University

Background: Ebola virus disease has a high case fatality rate. Health care providers have a key role to play in its management and prevention. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Ebola virus disease (EVD) among students of Nursing in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A semi-structured,self-administered questionnaire was administered to 178 nursing students. The respondents were selected using systematic random sampling. Results: Lecturers were the commonest source of information regarding EVD as reported by 84.5% of the respondents followed by television (76.3%). Nearly 27% of respondents indicated that the fear of EVD had dampened their interest and enthusiasm in the nursing profession. Nearly 12 % indicated that they would not take part as theatre nurses in the surgical operation of a patient who had been certified cured of EVD. A similar proportion indicated their unwillingness to attend to a woman in labour even if she had been certified cured of EVD. Conclusion: Majority of the students were knowledgeable about EVD. Although majority of them had favorable attitude towards EVD patients, there was evidence of stigmatizing and discriminatory attitude that needs to be addressed

The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment: Exploring Fundamental Symmetries of the Universe

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early Universe, the dynamics of the supernova bursts that produced the heavy elements necessary for life and whether protons eventually decay --- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our Universe, its current state and its eventual fate. The Long-Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE) represents an extensively developed plan for a world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions. LBNE is conceived around three central components: (1) a new, high-intensity neutrino source generated from a megawatt-class proton accelerator at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, (2) a near neutrino detector just downstream of the source, and (3) a massive liquid argon time-projection chamber deployed as a far detector deep underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility. This facility, located at the site of the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, is approximately 1,300 km from the neutrino source at Fermilab -- a distance (baseline) that delivers optimal sensitivity to neutrino charge-parity symmetry violation and mass ordering effects. This ambitious yet cost-effective design incorporates scalability and flexibility and can accommodate a variety of upgrades and contributions. With its exceptional combination of experimental configuration, technical capabilities, and potential for transformative discoveries, LBNE promises to be a vital facility for the field of particle physics worldwide, providing physicists from around the globe with opportunities to collaborate in a twenty to thirty year program of exciting science. In this document we provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess.Comment: Major update of previous version. This is the reference document for LBNE science program and current status. Chapters 1, 3, and 9 provide a comprehensive overview of LBNE's scientific objectives, its place in the landscape of neutrino physics worldwide, the technologies it will incorporate and the capabilities it will possess. 288 pages, 116 figure

Predicting range shifts of African apes under global change scenarios

Aim: Modelling African great ape distribution has until now focused on current or past conditions, while future scenarios remain scarcely explored. Using an ensemble forecasting approach, we predicted changes in taxon-specific distribution under future scenarios of climate, land use and human populations for (1) areas outside protected areas (PAs) only (assuming complete management effectiveness of PAs), (2) the entire study region and (3) interspecies range overlap. Location: Tropical Africa. Methods: We compiled occurrence data (n = 5,203) on African apes from the IUCN A.P.E.S. database and extracted relevant climate-, habitat- and human-related predictors representing current and future (2050) conditions to predict taxon-specific range change under a best- and a worst-case scenario, using ensemble forecasting. Results: The predictive performance of the models varied across taxa. Synergistic interactions between predictors are shaping African ape distribution, particularly human-related variables. On average across taxa, a range decline of 50% is expected outside PAs under the best scenario if no dispersal occurs (61% in worst scenario). Otherwise, an 85% range reduction is predicted to occur across study regions (94% worst). However, range gains are predicted outside PAs if dispersal occurs (52% best, 21% worst), with a slight increase in gains expected across study regions (66% best, 24% worst). Moreover, more than half of range losses and gains are predicted to occur outside PAs where interspecific ranges overlap. Main Conclusions: Massive range decline is expected by 2050, but range gain is uncertain as African apes will not be able to occupy these new areas immediately due to their limited dispersal capacity, migration lag and ecological constraints. Given that most future range changes are predicted outside PAs, Africa\u27s current PA network is likely to be insufficient for preserving suitable habitats and maintaining connected ape populations. Thus, conservation planners urgently need to integrate land use planning and climate change mitigation measures at all decision-making levels both in range countries and abroad

Measurement of t(t)over-bar normalised multi-differential cross sections in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV, and simultaneous determination of the strong coupling strength, top quark pole mass, and parton distribution functions

Peer reviewe

Measurement of the top quark forward-backward production asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract The parton-level top quark (t) forward-backward asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric (d̂ t) and chromomagnetic (μ̂ t) moments have been measured using LHC pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in the CMS detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The linearized variable AFB(1) is used to approximate the asymmetry. Candidate t t ¯ events decaying to a muon or electron and jets in final states with low and high Lorentz boosts are selected and reconstructed using a fit of the kinematic distributions of the decay products to those expected for t t ¯ final states. The values found for the parameters are AFB(1)=0.048−0.087+0.095(stat)−0.029+0.020(syst),μ̂t=−0.024−0.009+0.013(stat)−0.011+0.016(syst), and a limit is placed on the magnitude of | d̂ t| < 0.03 at 95% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

An embedding technique to determine ττ backgrounds in proton-proton collision data

An embedding technique is presented to estimate standard model tau tau backgrounds from data with minimal simulation input. In the data, the muons are removed from reconstructed mu mu events and replaced with simulated tau leptons with the same kinematic properties. In this way, a set of hybrid events is obtained that does not rely on simulation except for the decay of the tau leptons. The challenges in describing the underlying event or the production of associated jets in the simulation are avoided. The technique described in this paper was developed for CMS. Its validation and the inherent uncertainties are also discussed. The demonstration of the performance of the technique is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS in 2017 at root s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.5 fb(-1).Peer reviewe

MUSiC : a model-unspecific search for new physics in proton-proton collisions at root s=13TeV

Results of the Model Unspecific Search in CMS (MUSiC), using proton-proton collision data recorded at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1), are presented. The MUSiC analysis searches for anomalies that could be signatures of physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is based on the comparison of observed data with the standard model prediction, as determined from simulation, in several hundred final states and multiple kinematic distributions. Events containing at least one electron or muon are classified based on their final state topology, and an automated search algorithm surveys the observed data for deviations from the prediction. The sensitivity of the search is validated using multiple methods. No significant deviations from the predictions have been observed. For a wide range of final state topologies, agreement is found between the data and the standard model simulation. This analysis complements dedicated search analyses by significantly expanding the range of final states covered using a model independent approach with the largest data set to date to probe phase space regions beyond the reach of previous general searches.Peer reviewe