Nocturnal inversions over the Central Plains of the United States (1960-2009)

A study of nocturnal inversions in the Central Plains of the United States was conducted using 15 National Weather Service stations. Radiosonde data from 1960 to 2007 were analyzed in order to assess any regional trends in inversion characteristics. Previous research suggests that the urban heat effect counteracts the inversion effect and, therefore, a change in inversion characteristics was expected. Yearly, seasonal, and monthly statistical analyses revealed few trends in inversion frequency, intensity, and depth. Using statistical and graphical analyses, no overarching changes in nocturnal inversions were observable over the Central Plains during this time. While not explicitly the intention of this study, one consistent result was displayed through the average soundings: an overall atmospheric warming (from near surface to 500 mb) existed at thirteen of the fifteen sites

A follow-up study of the 1950-1956 St. Gregory High School business graduates to determine the effectiveness of their training with implications for curriculum revision

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

What is it like working with psychotic children and adolescents? A study of child and adolescent psychotherapists’ experience.

This study explores the lived experiences of a small sample of clinically experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists regarding their work with psychotic children and young people. The research question is phenomenological in nature; the study seeks to understand what it feels like to work with these children. The method employed is IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) owing to its compatibility with a small-scale qualitative study concerned with an idiographic approach, which aims to understand the ‘world view’ of individual participants. The following themes will be described: 1. Definition and Aetiology 2. Working with primitive states: the cost for the therapist, child, and family 3. Rival babies 4. What’s required – setting, technique, and personal qualities. The themes will be discussed in relation to psychoanalytic literature. The study concludes that a sub-group of overtly destructive psychotic children continue to be under-represented in the literature and require significant individual therapeutic support in addition to the active involvement of a wider network. Psychotherapists require considerable support to sustain the work with these children and intense emotional involvement ensues. Recommendations are made for further research

What is it like working with psychotic children and adolescents? A study of child and adolescent psychotherapists’ experience

This study explores the lived experiences of a small sample of clinically experienced Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists regarding their work with psychotic children and young people. The research question is phenomenological in nature; the study seeks to understand what it feels like to work with these children. The method employed is IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) owing to its compatibility with a small-scale qualitative study concerned with an idiographic approach, which aims to understand the ‘world view’ of individual participants. The following themes will be described: 1. Definition and Aetiology 2. Working with primitive states: the cost for the therapist, child, and family 3. Rival babies 4. What’s required – setting, technique, and personal qualities. The themes will be discussed in relation to psychoanalytic literature. The study concludes that a sub-group of overtly destructive psychotic children continue to be under-represented in the literature and require significant individual therapeutic support in addition to the active involvement of a wider network. Psychotherapists require considerable support to sustain the work with these children and intense emotional involvement ensues. Recommendations are made for further research

Screening of the novel antimicrobial drug, XF-73, against 2,527 Staphylococcus species clinical isolates

XF-73 (exeporfinium chloride) is a synthetic, di-cationic porphyrin derivative with rapid, potent bactericidal properties and a low propensity for engendering bacterial resistance. It is being developed clinically for the decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal cavity to prevent post-operative staphylococcal infections. This study reports the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of XF-73 in comparison to 22 antibiotics against a panel of >2,500 clinical isolates composed of 16 different Coagulase-positive and -negative Staphylococcus species from 33 countries. XF-73 was found to be effective against all isolates tested, with MICs ranging between ≤0.12 – 4 µg/ml (MIC50 and MIC90 values of 0.5 and 1 µg/ml respectively). XF-73 was found to be equally effective against antibiotic resistant isolates as antibiotic sensitive isolates, with no impact of pre-existing antibiotic resistance mechanisms to cell wall synthesis inhibitors (β-lactams, carbapenems, glycopeptides and cephalosporins), protein synthesis inhibitors (oxazolidinones, macrolides and tetracyclines), DNA synthesis inhibitors (fluoroquinolones) and a folate synthesis inhibitor. The panel selected also included examples of multidrug-resistant S. aureus isolates and, in all cases, the XF-73 MIC ranges were found to be similar against each of these groups. This dataset expands the knowledge of the breadth of activity of this novel antibacterial against a wide range of global S. aureus isolates and supports the potential utility of XF-73 for the treatment of patients who are S. aureus nasal carriers. Similar results were also obtained for multidrug-resistant isolates of other Staphylococcus species included in the study and collectively support the continued clinical development of XF-73 as an effective anti-staphylococcal drug

Parallel Profiles of Inflammatory and Effector Memory T Cells in Visceral Fat and Liver of Obesity-Associated Cancer Patients

In the midst of a worsening obesity epidemic, the incidence of obesity-associated morbidities, including cancer, diabetes, cardiac and liver disease is increasing. Insights into mechanisms underlying pathological obesity-associated inflammation are lacking. Both the omentum, the principal component of visceral fat, and liver of obese individuals are sites of excessive inflammation, but to date the T cell profiles of both compartments have not been assessed or compared in a patient cohort with obesity-associated disease. We have previously identified that omentum is enriched with inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and T cells. Here, we compared the inflammatory profile of T cells in the omentum and liver of patients with the obesity-associated malignancy oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). Furthermore, we assessed the secreted cytokine profile in OAC patient serum, omentum and liver to assess systemic and local inflammation. We observed parallel T cell cytokine profiles and phenotypes in the omentum and liver of OAC patients, in particular CD69+ and inflammatory effector memory T cells. This study reflects similar processes of inflammation and T cell activation in the omentum and liver, and may suggest common targets to modulate pathological inflammation at these sites

ProACT: Fostering patient and public involvement within the design of digital health solutions for multimorbidity

At present in Europe there are 50 million people living at any one time with multimorbidity. However, our healthcare systems have not been designed to effectively support these people in their daily care needs. ProACT (Integrated Technology Systems for ProACTive Patient Centred Care) is a digital health research programme funded under the European Union Horizon 2020 framework that seeks to address this problem by developing and evaluating a digital integrated care system to support older adults (65 years and over) living with multimorbidity. This poster will illustrate how Patient Public Involvement (PPI) was achieved within ProACT by borrowing existing methodologies, successfully implemented, in the disciplines of Design and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). It offers an example of how the design of digital health interventions can ensure that participants become codesign partners of the final system

The ambivalence of losing weight after bariatric surgery

This study is grounded in a phenomenological lifeworld perspective. It aims at providing rich descriptions of lived experience of the process of losing weight after obesity surgery. Two women participated in in-depth interviews four times each during the first postoperative year. Based on the women's experiences, a meaning structure—the ambivalence of losing weight after obesity surgery—was identified across the women's processes of change. This consisted of five core themes: movement and activity—freedom but new demands and old restraints; eating habits and digestion—the complexity of change; appearance—smaller, but looser; social relations—stability and change; and being oneself—vulnerability and self-assurance. These core themes changed over time in terms of dominance. The experience of ambivalence is discussed according to a phenomenological perspective of the body as lived experience

Transitioning to home and beyond following stroke: a prospective cohort study of outcomes and needs

Introduction: Understanding of the needs of people with stroke at hospital discharge and in the first six-months is limited. This study aim was to profile and document the needs of people with stroke at hospital discharge to home and thereafter. Methods: A prospective cohort study recruiting individuals with stroke, from three hospitals, who transitioned home, either directly, through rehabilitation, or with early supported discharge teams. Their outcomes (global-health, cognition, function, quality of life, needs) were described using validated questionnaires and a needs survey, at 7–10 days, and at 3-, and 6-months, post-discharge. Results: 72 patients were available at hospital discharge; mean age 70 (SD 13); 61% female; median NIHSS score of 4 (IQR 0–20). 62 (86%), 54 (75%), and 45 (63%) individuals were available respectively at each data collection time-point. Perceived disability was considerable at hospital discharge (51% with mRS ≥ 3), and while it improved at 3-months, it increased thereafter (35% with mRS ≥ 3 at 6-months). Mean physical health and social functioning were “fair” at hospital discharge and ongoing; while HR-QOL, although improved over time, remained impaired at 6-months (0.69+/-0.28). At 6-months cognitive impairment was present in 40%. Unmet needs included involvement in transition planning and care decisions, with ongoing rehabilitation, information, and support needs. The median number of unmet needs at discharge to home was four (range:1–9), and three (range:1–7) at 6-months. Conclusion: Stroke community reintegration is challenging for people with stroke and their families, with high levels of unmet need. Profiling outcomes and unmet needs for people with stroke at hospital-to-home transition and onwards are crucial for shaping the development of effective support interventions to be delivered at this juncture