12,925 research outputs found
Using meta-ethnography to understand the emotional impact of caring for people with increasing cognitive impairment.
The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comThe majority of people with degenerative neurological conditions are cared for within their own families. Cognitive impairment can be a significant and increasing symptom of these conditions. In this article we report how a team of experienced researchers carried out a meta-ethnography of qualitative research articles focusing on the impact of caring for a loved one with cognitive impairment. We followed the seven-step process outlined by Noblit and Hare. Synthesized findings from 31 papers suggest emotional impact is complex and uncertain and varies from day to day. The benefit of using meta-ethnography is that the results represent a larger sample size and a reinterpretation of multiple studies can hold greater application for practice. The results of this study offer an opportunity for nurses to be aware of both the positive and negative sides of caring and being cared for. This knowledge can be used to discuss with patients and carers how best to prepare for decreasing cognition and still maintain a worthwhile quality of life
The thinking line: defining drawing
Curated exhibition of works from the British Council collection alongside Canterbury Christ Church university staff and alumni
Remote soil moisture measurements
The degree of polarization of visible sunlight reflected from bare soils in agricultural test areas in the southwestern United States was measured by an airborne photopolarimeter. Surface soil specimens provided data concerning the surface moisture of the soil to which the polarization data were compared. The results indicate the feasibility of measuring soil surface moisture by airborne polarimeter instrumentation
Development and demonstration of manufacturing processes for fabricating graphite/LARC 160 polyimide structural elements
The development and demonstration of manufacturing technologies for the structural application of Celion graphite/LARC-160 polyimide composite material is discussed. Process development and fabrication of demonstration components are discussed. Process development included establishing quality assurance of the basic composite material and processing, nondestructive inspection of fabricated components, developing processes for specific structural forms, and qualification of processes through mechanical testing. Demonstration components were fabricated. The demonstration components consisted of flat laminates, skin/stringer panels, honeycomb panels, chopped fiber compression moldings, and a technology demonstrator segment (TDS) representative of the space shuttle aft body flap
Image synthesis for SAR system, calibration and processor design
The Point Scattering Method of simulating radar imagery rigorously models all aspects of the imaging radar phenomena. Its computational algorithms operate on a symbolic representation of the terrain test site to calculate such parameters as range, angle of incidence, resolution cell size, etc. Empirical backscatter data and elevation data are utilized to model the terrain. Additionally, the important geometrical/propagation effects such as shadow, foreshortening, layover, and local angle of incidence are rigorously treated. Applications of radar image simulation to a proposed calibrated SAR system are highlighted: soil moisture detection and vegetation discrimination
Electromagnetic containerless processing requirements and recommended facility concept and capabilities for space lab
Containerless melting, reaction, and solidification experiments and processes which potentially can lead to new understanding of material science and production of new or improved materials in the weightless space environment are reviewed in terms of planning for spacelab. Most of the experiments and processes discussed are amenable to the employment of electromagnetic position control and electromagnetic induction or electron beam heating and melting. The spectrum of relevant properties of materials, which determine requirements for a space laboratory electromagnetic containerless processing facility are reviewed. Appropriate distributions and associated coil structures are analyzed and compared on the basis of efficiency, for providing the functions of position sensing, control, and induction heating. Several coil systems are found capable of providing these functions. Exchangeable modular coils in appropriate sizes are recommended to achieve the maximum power efficiencies, for a wide range of specimen sizes and resistivities, in order to conserve total facility power
Summary Proceedings of a Wind Shear Workshop
A number of recent program results and current issues were addressed: the data collection phase of the highly successful Joint Airport Weather Study (JAWS) Project and the NASA-B5f7B Gust Gradient Program, the use of these data for flight crew training through educational programs (e.g., films) and with manned flight training simulators, methods for post-accident determination of wind conditions from flight data recorders, the microburst wind shear phenomenon which was positively measured and described the ring vortex as a possible generating mechanism, the optimum flight procedure for use during an unexpected wind shear encounter, evaluation of the low-level wind shear alert system (LLWSAS), and assessment of the demonstrated and viable application of Doppler radar as an operational wind shear warning and detection system
Observations of celestial X-ray sources above 20 keV with the high-energy scintillation spectrometer on board OSO 8
High-energy X-ray spectra of the Crab Nebula, Cyg- XR-1, and Cen A were determined from observations with the scintillation spectrometer on board the OSO-8 satellite, launched in June, 1975. Each of these sources was observed over two periods of 8 days or more, enabling a search for day-to-day and year to year variations in the spectral and temporal characteristics of the X-ray emission. No variation in the light curve of the Crab pulsar was found from observations which span a 15-day period in March 1976, with demonstrable phase stability. Transitions associated with the binary phase of Cyg XR-1 and a large change in the emission from Con A are reported
Personalising psychotherapies for depression using a novel mixed methods approach: An example from Morita Therapy
This is the final version. Available on open access from BMC via the DOI in this recordBackground
Current quantitative methods for personalising psychotherapies for
depression are unlikely to be able to inform clinical decision-making for hundreds of
years. Novel alternative methods to generate hypotheses for prospective testing
are therefore required, and we showcase mixed methods as one such approach.
By exploring patientsā perspectives in-depth, and integrating qualitative and
quantitative data at the level of the individual, we may identify new potential
psychosocial predictors of psychotherapy outcomes, potentially informing the
personalisation of depression treatment in a shorter timeframe. Using Morita
Therapy (a Japanese psychotherapy) as an exemplar, we thus explored how
Morita Therapy recipientsā views on treatment acceptability explain their adherence
and response to treatment.
Methods
The Morita Trial incorporated a pilot randomised controlled trial of Morita
Therapy versus treatment as usual for depression, and post-treatment qualitative
interviews. We recruited trial participants from General Practice record searches in
Devon, UK, and purposively sampled data from 16 participants for our mixed
methods analysis. We developed typologies of participantsā views from our
qualitative themes, and integrated these with quantitative data on number of
sessions attended and whether participants responded to treatment in a joint
typologies and statistics display. We enriched our analysis using participant
vignettes to demonstrate each typology.
Results
We demonstrate that (1) participants who could identify with the principles of
Morita Therapy typically responded to treatment, regardless of how many sessions
they attended, whilst those whose orientation towards treatment was incompatible
with Morita Therapy did not respond to treatment, again regardless of treatment
adherence; (2) participants whose personal circumstances impeded their
opportunity to engage in Morita Therapy attended the fewest sessions, though still
benefitted from treatment if the principles resonated with them.
Conclusions
We identified new potential relationships between āorientationā and
outcomes, and āopportunityā and adherence, which could not have been identified
using existing non-integrative methods. This mixed methods approach warrants
replication in future trials and with other psychotherapies to generate hypotheses,
based on typologies (or profiles) of patients for whom a treatment is more or less
likely to be suitable, to be tested in prospective trials.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)University of Exete
Non-verbal sound processing in the primary progressive aphasias
Little is known about the processing of non-verbal sounds in the primary progressive aphasias. Here, we investigated the processing of complex non-verbal sounds in detail, in a consecutive series of 20 patients with primary progressive aphasia [12 with progressive non-fluent aphasia; eight with semantic dementia]. We designed a novel experimental neuropsychological battery to probe complex sound processing at early perceptual, apperceptive and semantic levels, using within-modality response procedures that minimized other cognitive demands and matching tests in the visual modality. Patients with primary progressive aphasia had deficits of non-verbal sound analysis compared with healthy age-matched individuals. Deficits of auditory early perceptual analysis were more common in progressive non-fluent aphasia, deficits of apperceptive processing occurred in both progressive non-fluent aphasia and semantic dementia, and deficits of semantic processing also occurred in both syndromes, but were relatively modality specific in progressive non-fluent aphasia and part of a more severe generic semantic deficit in semantic dementia. Patients with progressive non-fluent aphasia were more likely to show severe auditory than visual deficits as compared to patients with semantic dementia. These findings argue for the existence of core disorders of complex non-verbal sound perception and recognition in primary progressive aphasia and specific disorders at perceptual and semantic levels of cortical auditory processing in progressive non-fluent aphasia and semantic dementia, respectively
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