Reactions to insanity : a study of stigma, discrimination and labelling in relation to present and former psychiatric patients

The thesis is organised around an empirical investigation of the relationship between residents of a Hertfordshire village and people who are, or who have been, patients at a nearby psychiatric hospital, some of whom regularly venture into the village to use local facilities. The research employs the method of participant observation and draws upon the discourse analytic approach of Potter and Wetherell, together with the rhetorical perspective of Michael Billig. In particular, the research focuses upon the discursive practices of local people, practices which function to sustain, amplify or minimise difference between themselves and others who are patients. The critical theory of Jürgen Habermas is drawn upon to complement and extend the discourse analysis approach, which receives critical evaluation. In addition, the time-geography of Alan Pred is employed as an heuristic for the representation of journeys of patients in the village. The historical dimension of the relationship between village and hospital is addressed by drawing upon Parish Council minutes and local newspaper reports. The thesis contains a conceptual investigation of public anxieties concerning mental disorder, an overview and discussion of the contemporary relevance of the labelling perspective, and a review of relevant literature. In addition it provides an exploration of methodological and textual issue

Action anticipation through attribution of false belief by 2 year olds

Two-year-olds engage in many behaviors that ostensibly require the attribution of mental states to other individuals. Yet the overwhelming consensus has been that children of this age are unable to attribute false beliefs. In the current study, we used an eyetracker to record infants' looking behavior while they watched actions on a computer monitor. Our data demonstrate that 25-month-old infants correctly anticipate an actor's actions when these actions can be predicted only by attributing a false belief to the actor

Agent-based computational modeling of wounded epithelial cell monolayers

Computational modeling of biological systems, or ‘in silico biology’ is an emerging tool for understanding structure and order in biological tissues. Computational models of the behavior of epithelial cells in monolayer cell culture have been developed and used to predict the healing characteristics of scratch wounds made to urothelial cell cultures maintained in low and physiological [Ca2+] environments. Both computational models and in vitro experiments demonstrated that in low exogenous [Ca2+], the closure of 500mm scratch wounds was achieved primarily by cell migration into the denuded area. The wound healing rate in low (0.09mM) [Ca2+] was approximately twice as rapid as in physiological (2mM) [Ca2+]. Computational modeling predicted that in cell cultures that are actively proliferating, no increase in the fraction of cells in S-phase would be expected, and this conclusion was supported experimentally in vitro by BrdU incorporation assay. We have demonstrated that a simple rule-based model of cell behavior, incorporating rules relating to contact inhibition of proliferation and migration, is sufficient to qualitatively predict the calcium-dependent pattern of wound closure observed in vitro. Differences between the in vitro and in silico models suggest a role for wound-induced signaling events in urothelial cell cultures

An environmental mantra? Ecological interest in Romans 8.19-23 and a modest proposal for its narrative interpretation

This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in the Journal of Theological Studies following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version (Vol 59(2), 2008, pp.546-579) is available online at: http://jts.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/59/2/546. 24 month embargo by the publisher. Article will be released October 2010.Romans 8:19–23 has become a favourite text for ecotheologians seeking biblical grounds for promoting a positive approach towards non-human creation. However, there has been little work that both engages with the passage in detail and critically considers its possible contribution to an ecological theology and ethics. This essay begins by tracing the development of ecological interest in this text, and then proposes a narrative analysis as a strategy by which the meaning and contribution of the text may fruitfully be explored. The various elements of the story of ktisis are then discussed. Finally, the essay offers some preliminary indications as to the ways in which this story might inform a contemporary theological response to the ‘groaning’ of creation. This entails an acknowledgment of the difficulties the text poses for an eco-ethical appropriation — its theocentric, eschatological, and cosmological presuppositions — as well as a consideration of its positive potential. It is inescapably anthropocentric but by no means ‘anthropomonist’. As such, it can offer pointers towards the kind of ethical responsibility that humans might bear in the eschatological phase of creation's redemption.Arts and Humanities Research Council (Grant No. AH D001188/1

Colloidal Gold - A Powerful Tool in Scanning Electron Microscope Immunocytochemistry: An Overview of Bioapplications

Colloidal gold may be conjugated to a wide variety of macromolecules, provides a versatile system for immunocytochemical studies by various types of microscopy (light and fluorescent microscopy, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy), and is significantly contributing to the development of SEM immunocytochemistry as a routine analytical procedure. A comprehensive overview has been compiled of the literature on SEM bioapplications of colloidal gold. This is illustrated through a selected series of studies focussing on a) cell surface receptor-ligand interactions; b) expression of cell surface lectin-binding sites; c) surface distribution of extracellular matrix components; and d) visualization of gold-labelled cytoskeletal elements with emphasis on the use of backscattered electron imaging as a powerful analytical adjunct in the development of SEM immunocytochemistry

The Epitheliome: agent-based modelling of the social behaviour of cells

We have developed a new computational modelling paradigm for predicting the emergent behaviour resulting from the interaction of cells in epithelial tissue. As proof-of-concept, an agent-based model, in which there is a one-to-one correspondence between biological cells and software agents, has been coupled to a simple physical model. Behaviour of the computational model is compared with the growth characteristics of epithelial cells in monolayer culture, using growth media with low and physiological calcium concentrations. Results show a qualitative fit between the growth characteristics produced by the simulation and the in vitro cell models

Water-Induced Surface Failures on I 65, Hardin County, Kentucky

This report documents an investigation of water-related distress on portions of I 65 in Hardin County, Kentucky, on Muldraugh Hill. An open-graded surface placed on a full-depth asphaltic concrete pavement had shown areas of flushing and shallow shear failures in the outer lanes after one year of service. Cores were obtained from the outer lanes in areas exhibiting no problems to shear and flow failures. Core sites also were chosen across the lane to represent edge, wheel track, and between wheel track conditions. Visual inspection of the cores was made under normal lighting and an ultraviolet light and photographs were taken. Construction data and records indicated no abnormal construction problems. Results of laboratory density, extraction, and gradation tests coupled with nuclear density tests and visual inspection of the cores indicate water had caused the asphalt to be stripped from the aggregate. Soft particles in the dense-graded surface course below the open-graded course had deteriorated. The stripped asphalt and deteriorated soft particles had migrated toward the surface causing the pores to be filled in most locations. Where the asphalt/matrix was particularly weak, heavy truck tireloads had caused the material to move laterally over the adjacent stiffer material. Water is being held in the pores of the open-graded course and allowing the dense-graded surface course below to become saturated causing the asphalt to be stripped from the aggregate and softer particles to become deteriorated

Advocating Practice: the Role of the Community Oncology Nurse

The oncology nurse, along with many other expert practitioners, has a vital role within the community, and due to the many changes within the health system, it will be an even more crucial role in the future. Little is written about the role of the community oncology nurse, which may endanger its very existence. Several nurse scholars as Benner (1984) Johnstone (1999) and Taylor (2000) support and encourage nurses to tell their stories and increase public awareness of their practice. The primary aim of this research was to advocate for, and make known, the role of the community oncology nurse, and to bring alive the hidden but real issues of nursing people in the community who have active cancer treatment. This study is also about my journey from novice to expert in developing the role as a community oncology nurse. The research also aimed to identify and understand practice that community oncology nurses do and often take for granted. To capture the essence of this study the method of reflective topical autobiography was utilized, which gave the opportunity to gather advanced nursing inquiry, and generate new nursing knowledge. To obtain insight into the highs and lows in everyday interaction with patients, reflective practice stories are presented. The thesis generated by this research is that care required by cancer patients at home goes beyond the scope of traditional community health. It requires nurses to be competent in technological skills as well as bringing in-depth expertise to the practical and human needs of people experiencing cancer. The role involves holistic, family-centered care; anticipating patient and family needs; educating; managing symptoms; advocating; confronting ethical issues; coordinating complex care; and monitoring progress

The Effect of Truck Design on Pavement Performance

When work is done on some materials systems, their internal geometric states are altered in such a way that they have the potential to give back work when the force is removed and the system returns to its original configuration. This stored energy is called strain energy. Strain energy density (strain energy per unit volume) is a function of the Young\u27s modulus of elasticity and Poisson\u27s ratio and the nine strain (or stress) components; but it is independent of the coordinate system. Material properties are input into the Chevron N-layer computer program to calculate the strain components. Having calculated the strain energy density at a point, another quantity called work strain can be defined as the value of the strain corresponding to an uniaxial stress situation leading to the same strain energy density at the point. It can be used as the \u27\u27effective strain and is related to any single component of strain. Thus, pavement design systems based upon a single component of strain may be easily converted to a strain energy density basis. Configurations with loads distributed equally between the axles of an axle group were evaluated and damage factor relationships are reviewed. However, inspections of tandem axle suspensions on semitrailer trucks have shown that most tandem groups do not distribute the load equally to the axles. A theoretical investigation was made using pavement structures identical to those tested at the AASHO Road Test. The 1976 W-6 Table for Kentucky was used to obtain actual weight data. Preliminary analyses of tandem groups for 3S2 vehicles revealed a 40-percent increase in EAL over that calculated EAL assuming the total load on each tandem group had been uniformly distributed to the axles

Strain Energy Analysis of Pavement Designs for Heavy Trucks

The first portion of this paper summarizes classical concepts of work, or strain energy, as applied to the analysis of stresses, strains, and deflections under various vehicular load configurations on pavement systems. Controlling equations for strain energy density are presented. When considering strain energy density, strain energy, or work, all components of stresses or strains must be taken into account so that total internal behavior can be evaluated. Previously, pavement thickness design systems have been developed using only a single component of strain, typically at the bottom of the asphaltic concrete layer or at the top of the subgrade. Strain energy concepts permit modifications to thickness design systems to account for the net effect of all components of strains or stresses. The second portion of this paper illustrates the significance of detailed analyses. Effects of loads and load distributions on vehicles are summarized. One startling result shows the large increase in fatigue rate due to unequal distribution of loads between the two axles of a tandem group relative to the fatigue under an equal load distribution. A third part of this paper deals with pavement thickness designs for heavily loaded trucks exceeding legal load limits. The effects of those vehicles on interstate pavements are compared to the effects of more normally loaded vehicles