Exploring the media uses of farmers when establishing their business relationships : a case study of Tyson Foods Local Grain Services (LGS)

Professional project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism from the School of Journalism, University of Missouri--Columbia

Hmong in America: An Emergence of the American Identity

The historical background of the Hmong ethnic group and immigration in regards to how the emergence of the American identity has impacted their cultural identity is examined in this thesis. A qualitative study was conducted to better understand the impacts of immigration and the reasons that younger generations have pushed to be one with the American identity. Drawing upon 10 in-depth interviews of second-generation children of Hmong immigrants, the findings show that the Hmong identity has lost its preservation through the Hmong ethnic group’s experiences in the United States. The researcher found that the American identity affects the Hmong cultural identity in terms of assimilation because of the lac¬k of historical recognition, racial tensions, conflicts between older and younger generations, and being American born. Immigration has caused the Hmong people to lose their identity because the demands placed upon them by the new host country. The emergence of the American identity is problematic due to the fear of becoming an unknown race as younger generations fail to preserve the Hmong identity

The Potential for Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions in the Treatment and Prevention of Depression

This is the final version. Available on open access from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this recordThere is growing interest in nature-based interventions (NBI) to improve human health and wellbeing. An important nascent area is exploring the potential of outdoor therapies to treat and prevent common mental health problems like depression. In this conceptual analysis on the nature-depression nexus, we distil some of the main issues for consideration when NBIs for depression are being developed. We argue that understanding the mechanisms, or 'active ingredients' in NBIs is crucial to understand what works and for whom. Successfully identifying modifiable mediating intervention targets will pave the way for interventions with increased efficacy. We highlight a non-exhaustive list of five clinically relevant putative, candidate mechanisms which may underly the beneficial effects of NBIs on depression: stress, rumination, mindfulness, sleep and exercise. We also make the case that when developing NBIs it is important to not neglect young people, explore personalised approaches and focus on both treatment and prevention approaches. To achieve these aims methodologically rigorous programmes of clinical research are needed that include well-powered and controlled experimental designs including randomised controlled trials, qualitative research, longitudinal studies and large prospective cohorts

Nature-Based Meditation, Rumination and Mental Wellbeing

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordData Availability Statement: Please contact the authors directly to request datasets for the study.Novel approaches for children and young people (CYP) in the prevention and intervention of mental illness are needed and nature-based interventions (NBI) may be clinically useful. This proof-of-principle study tested the effects of a novel brief nature-based meditation on rumination, depressive symptoms and wellbeing in young people. Sixty-eight university students were randomised to one of three conditions: active control (n = 23), indoor meditation (n = 22) or nature-based meditation (n = 23). Participants completed self-report measures on state and trait rumination post intervention and depression and wellbeing at a 2-week follow-up. Depressive rumination significantly decreased post intervention in the nature condition and depressive symptoms improved for both intervention groups. Wellbeing only significantly improved at follow-up in the nature condition. Nature condition participants demonstrated one minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for wellbeing at follow-up. Depressive symptoms for this condition were below the clinically significant threshold for depression. The number needed to treat (NNT) analysis suggested that two to five young people would need to complete the intervention. Preliminary evidence suggests NBIs, such as the one in the present study, can reduce depressive rumination and symptoms and improve wellbeing. Replication with larger clinical samples is required to substantiate findings

Short-term prediction of threatening and violent behaviour in an Acute Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit based on patient and environment characteristics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aims of the present study were to investigate clinically relevant patient and environment-related predictive factors for threats and violent incidents the first three days in a PICU population based on evaluations done at admittance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2000 and 2001 all 118 consecutive patients were assessed at admittance to a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Patient-related conditions as actuarial data from present admission, global clinical evaluations by physician at admittance and clinical nurses first day, a single rating with an observer rated scale scoring behaviours that predict short-term violence in psychiatric inpatients (The Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC)) at admittance, and environment-related conditions as use of segregation or not were related to the outcome measure Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised (SOAS-R). A multiple logistic regression analysis with SOAS-R as outcome variable was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The global clinical evaluations and the BVC were effective and more suitable than actuarial data in predicting short-term aggression. The use of segregation reduced the number of SOAS-R incidents.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In a naturalistic group of patients in a PICU segregation of patients lowers the number of aggressive and threatening incidents. Prediction should be based on clinical global judgment, and instruments designed to predict short-term aggression in psychiatric inpatients.</p> <p>Trial registrations</p> <p><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00184119">NCT00184119</a>/<a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00184132">NCT00184132</a></p

Communication Research

Contains reports on seven research projects.Rockefeller FoundationCarnegie Foundatio

Predicting inpatient violence using an extended version of the Brøset-Violence-Checklist: instrument development and clinical application

BACKGROUND: Patient aggression is a common problem in acute psychiatric wards and calls for preventive measures. The timely use of preventive measures presupposes a preceded risk assessment. The Norwegian Brøset-Violence-Checklist (BVC) is one of the few instruments suited for short-time prediction of violence of psychiatric inpatients in routine care. Aims of our study were to improve the accuracy of the short-term prediction of violence in acute inpatient settings by combining the Brøset-Violence-Checklist (BVC) with an overall subjective clinical risk-assessment and to test the application of the combined measure in daily practice. METHOD: We conducted a prospective cohort study with two samples of newly admitted psychiatric patients for instrument development (219 patients) and clinical application (300 patients). Risk of physical attacks was assessed by combining the 6-item BVC and a 6-point score derived from a Visual Analog Scale. Incidents were registered with the Staff Observation of Aggression Scale-Revised SOAS-R. Test accuracy was described as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC(ROC)). RESULTS: The AUC(ROC )of the new VAS-complemented BVC-version (BVC-VAS) was 0.95 in and 0.89 in the derivation and validation study respectively. CONCLUSION: The BVC-VAS is an easy to use and accurate instrument for systematic short-term prediction of violent attacks in acute psychiatric wards. The inclusion of the VAS-derived data did not change the accuracy of the original BVC

Communication Research

Contains reports on eight research projects