How do new/recent mothers experience unwanted harm thoughts related to their newborn? A thematic analysis

Objective: The aim of this qualitative research study was to explore how new/recent mothers experience infant-related harm thoughts (IRHTs). Background: New/recent mothers’ experiences of intrusive, infant-related harm thoughts remain a taboo topic, yet several studies indicate such thoughts are common. Understanding the normal experience of such thoughts is needed to improve the postpartum experiences of mothers, and clinical practice. The aim was to elicit a fuller, critical understanding of the experience of harm thoughts in a mixed, non-clinical sample, exploring how they are understood, managed and shared by women. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight new/recent mothers who had experienced IRHTs related to their youngest child, born within the last two years. Data were analysed with Thematic Analysis. Findings: The results yielded three core themes: Heightened emotions; Constructions of motherhood and maternal identity; Costs and benefits of sharing. Conclusion: Findings corroborate previous literature showing that IRHTs commonly occur among non-clinical postpartum mothers, highlighting their intense emotional impact, and barriers to women reporting them due to stigma. Results also highlighted ways in which the pervasive ideology of motherhood informed mothers’ meaning-making of IRHTs. Some pathologised their IRHTs in order to maintain their ‘good’ mother identity. However, others reconfigured their maternal identity in response to IRHTs, through a constructive process of self-development. Recommendations include discussing the ideology of motherhood with pregnant women and partners and facilitating open, normalising discussion of IRHTs

Feeding Patterns and Attachment Ability of \u3ci\u3eAltica Subplicata\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Sand-Dune Willow

To investigate feeding patterns of a specialist herbivore, Altica subplicata, larvae and adults were caged separately on host plants, Salix cordata, and leaf damage was estimated. Young, relatively more pubescent leaves near the tops of the shoots were consumed more than older leaves. Larvae clearly preferred the young, pubescent leaves and avoided the oldest leaves. Adults showed a stronger preference for the first five young leaves, but amount of consumption did not differ among the older leaves. Attachment ability on smooth and pubescent leaves was examined as a possible factor influencing feeding patterns. Scanning electron microscopy of tarsal adhesive structures and leaf surfaces was conducted to investigate how A. subplicata attaches to its host. Adhesive setae on the tarsi of adults may be effective for attachment on the older, smooth leaves and their tarsal claws are likely used to cling to trichomes of pubescent leaves. Larvae have fleshy adhesive pads for attachment. Laboratory experiments on attachment of larvae and adults to smooth and pubescent leaves under various wind conditions showed that wind caused difficulty in attachment and movement, but leaf pubescence did not affect the number of beetles that fell off leaves. However, larvae fell off more quickly when placed on pubescent leaves. Thus, other factors such as nutritional quality and microclimate provided by trichomes may be responsible for the preference for pubescent leaves exhibited by A. subplicata

Bone cross-sectional geometry in male runners, gymnasts, swimmers and non-athletic controls: a hip-structural analysis study.

Loading of the skeleton is important for the development of a functionally and mechanically appropriate bone structure, and can be achieved through impact exercise. Proximal femur cross-sectional geometry was assessed in the male athletes (n = 55) representing gymnastics, endurance running and swimming, and non-athletic controls (n = 22). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (iDXA, GE Healthcare, UK) measurements of the total body (for body composition) and the left proximal femur were obtained. Advanced hip structural analysis (AHA) was utilised to determine the areal bone mineral density (aBMD), hip axis length (HAL), cross-sectional area (CSA), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI) and the femoral strength index (FSI). Gymnasts and runners had greater age, height and weight adjusted aBMD than in swimmers and controls (p < 0.05). Gymnasts and runners had greater resistance to axial loads (CSA) and the runners had increased resistance against bending forces (CSMI) compared to swimmers and controls (p < 0.01). Controls had a lower FSI compared to gymnasts and runners (1.4 vs. 1.8 and 2.1, respectively, p < 0.005). Lean mass correlated with aBMD, CSA and FSI (r = 0.365-0.457, p < 0.01), particularly in controls (r = 0.657-0.759, p < 0.005). Skeletal loading through the gymnastics and running appears to confer a superior bone geometrical advantage in the young adult men. The importance of lean body mass appears to be of particular significance for non-athletes. Further characterisation of the bone structural advantages associated with different sports would be of value to inform the strategies directed at maximising bone strength and thus, preventing fracture

On the Classification of Diagonal Coset Modular Invariants

We relate in a novel way the modular matrices of GKO diagonal cosets without fixed points to those of WZNW tensor products. Using this we classify all modular invariant partition functions of $su(3)_k\oplus su(3)_1/su(3)_{k+1}$ for all positive integer level $k$, and $su(2)_k\oplus su(2)_\ell/su(2)_{k+\ell}$ for all $k$ and infinitely many $\ell$ (in fact, for each $k$ a positive density of $\ell$). Of all these classifications, only that for $su(2)_k\oplus su(2)_1/su(2)_{k+1}$ had been known. Our lists include many new invariants.Comment: 24 pp (plain tex

Challenges faced by mental health interpreters in East London: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Background/Aims/Objectives - The role of an interpreter is instrumental for people not fluent in the new language of their host community or country where they are living. This subject is an important one and not enough is known, especially about the challenges faced by mental health interpreters. Methodology/Methods - The study examined how interpreters drew on direct translation, cultural meanings and non-verbal information while interpreting and how they convey these to both service users and providers. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was adopted to analyse three semi-structured interviews with female mental health interpreters that lasted approximately 60 minutes each. All participants were self-identified as fluent in at least two languages and had attended a minimum of six months training on mental health interpreting. Results/Finding - The challenges of mental health interpreting were revealed in three overarching themes: (i) Sensitive nature of interpreting and challenges associated with ensuring accuracy. (ii) Multitasking to convey literal words, feelings and cultural meanings. (iii) Exposure to the risk of vicarious trauma and insufficient organisational support. Discussion/Conclusion - The study concluded that mental health interpreters should have more access to training and development, organisational support, professional recognition and adequate acknowledgement of their essential role in service provision to people not fluent with the new language of their present community or country

A study of residual stresses and their effect on thermo mechanical fatigue in complex geometries

It is known that residual stresses within engine components, such as turbine housings, can combine with service generated stresses and cause unexpected failures during operation, therefore it is important that all the stresses (residual and induced, compressive and tensile) are fully characterised and understood. The use of neutrons as a tool to measure the strains within a material is well established; however, applying this technique to complex engineering components can prove challenging. This research investigates the measurement of residual stresses in complex geometries found within the turbine housing component of a turbocharger using neutron diffraction. The effect of various production methods on residual stress distributions is also explored. Successful strain measurements were taken using the Engin-X instrument at the ISIS spallation source from three turbine housings selected from various stages in the manufacturing process, allowing a study of the effect of heat treatment and machining on stress magnitudes and direction. The turbine housing consists of various sections greater than the maximum 60mm path length of the neutrons, therefore path lengths must be carefully chosen to achieve acceptable neutron count rates. Engin-X benefits from an automated experimental setup to make the selection of this limited path length easier on complex shapes. The turbine housings were mounted on to a positioning table allowing translation in X, Y, Z directions and also rotation in , . Each of the housings were scanned using laser scanners and this in conjunction with the virtual path length measurement software SScanSS allowed automated measurements of acceptable path lengths to be made. On this occasion measurements in one principal direction were measured and the correct measurement methodology established. Continuation of this work was then carried out on SALSA at the ILL reactor source. Measurements were made on turbine housings, one as cast and one heat treated. The internal divider wall of each turbine housing was examined as this is an area where crack initiation can occur. The results showed that, heat treatment can reduce compressive residual stresses. However, compressive stresses are thought to slow the onset of crack initiation and could be beneficial in the material, this will be investigated further in future work. It is hoped that this information will be used to improve production methods and result in improved simulation methodologies to allow accurate predictions of thermal fatigue and fracture locations to be established. The authors wish to thank Dr Jon James (Open University) for his help in setting up the experiment and for the use of the SScanSS software

Interesting times: a short introduction from the new editorial team of Gender and Education

Editoria

Nucleation Induced Undulative Instability in Thin Films of nCB Liquid Crystals

A surface instability is reported in thin nematic films of 5CB and 8CB, occurring near the nematic--isotropic phase transition. Although this instability leads to patterns reminiscent of spinodal dewetting, we show that it is actually based on a nucleation mechanism. Its characteristic wavelength does not depend markedly on film thickness, but strongly on the heating rate.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

How do nurses experience working with adolescents with a diagnosis of ‘personality disorder’ or ‘emerging personality disorder'?

Nurses experience adults with a diagnosis of 'personality disorder' ('PD') as challenging but nothing is known of their experiences working with young people with a diagnosis of 'PD' or 'emerging PD'. This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurses with this group. Six nurses were interviewed individually and the transcripts analysed employing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two themes were identified: emotional impact and conflict and need for support. Participants described powerful emotional responses and heavy time demands as particular challenges. They also reflected on tensions that arose in the wider team and service context. The importance of reflective space, training and the need for specialist approaches, such as therapeutic input, was emphasized by all participants. The study’s findings suggest that while there are some similarities to adult services there are also issues specific to nursing adolescents with 'PD', which merit further attention, including the implications of the lack of diagnostic clarity for treatment approaches and the difficult interpersonal dynamics of the condition. Recommendations for practice include additional training in relation to the theoretical understanding of diagnosis itself and in working therapeutically with young people with the diagnosis employing approaches that have been found to be useful in adult services