Affective symptoms over the life course and cognitive ageing

Affective symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, are commonly comorbid with dementia. Estimates report that up to 40% of people with dementia also present with symptoms of depression. Research has also shown that a longitudinal association between affective symptoms and cognitive function may exist over time. However, the majority of research has focussed on older samples (aged 60+ at baseline) with short periods of follow up (<10 years). Less is known about how the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function operates over a longer period of time, including much earlier in the life course. The studies within this thesis aim to test the nature of this complex association, using a life course approach. The first study in this thesis used a systematic review and meta-analysis method and concluded that depression in older adulthood was associated with a faster subsequent cognitive decline. The second study used secondary data from the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), a nationally representative birth cohort of over 5,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales, during one week of 1946. This study found that adolescent, but not adult, affective symptoms significantly predicted poorer baseline memory and information processing speed scores, but not rate of decline over time. The third study also used data from NSHD to test bidirectionality between affective symptoms and cognitive function. This study found that affective symptoms significantly predicted subsequent level of memory and processing speed over a 16 year period, but that this association did not operate in the opposite direction. The fourth study used data from the National Child Development Study (NCDS), a population representative birth cohort of over 18,000 people born in England, Scotland and Wales, during one week of 1958. This study revealed that accumulation of persistent affective symptoms was a better predictor of midlife memory function than sensitive periods. The fifth and final study in the thesis also used data from NCDS to explore inflammation as a potential mediator in the association between affective symptoms and cognitive function. This study showed that C-Reactive protein (CRP) fully explained the association between adult affective symptoms and memory function, suggesting that inflammation is an important explanatory factor of this relationship. Taken together, these findings suggest that chronic and persistent affective symptoms across the life course play an important but complex role in contributing to cognitive function across mid to later life, with particularly strong effects observed on memory function. In addition, inflammation may be one important explanatory mediator of the association between affective symptoms and midlife memory function

Wish in One Hand

In confessional genre-blending poems, prose, and poetic essays, Wish in One Hand probes the reality of living in liminal spaces, and how that reality changes perceptions of identity and the home. Crossing three physical spaces that separate the works, the idea of home is shown to be fluid and multifaceted, frequently interweaving with ideas of childhood, memory, and the passage of time. From meditations on mice in the walls to visceral descriptions of swamp creatures, Wish in One Hand reflects the personal struggle to reconcile liminality with the concrete nature of our worldly experiences

Chiral selection in the formation of borates from racemic binaphthols and related diols

A series of racemic or stereochemically labile chiral borate anions based on the 2,2′-biphenol motif was investigated. All borates were homochiral in the solid state, although in some cases the heterochiral diastereomers were computed to be thermodynamically preferred (DFT). The crystallographic preference for the homochiral diastereomer was attributed to its lower bulk, higher molecular symmetry, and the therewith associated better packing ability

Repeated survey along the foreland of a receding Norwegian glacier reveals shifts in succession of beetles and spiders

Glacier forelands provide important sites to study climate-forced ecological succession because a chronosequence is apparent along a single valley. However, most studies of invertebrate succession in forelands provide a single snapshot of community assemblage patterns. With glaciers retreating rapidly worldwide, it is important to begin re-surveying community composition and assessing changes in relation to new terrain revealed by the retreating ice. In this study, we repeat a survey of spiders and beetles along the glacier foreland of the sub-alpine glacier Austerdalsbreen in western Norway, 15 years after an initial assessment in 2004, during which time the glacier has retreated 400 m. Invertebrates were sampled in 18 sites that represent a terrain age gradient of approximately 10–250 years since glacier recession. Forty spider species and 70 beetle species were identified, constituting the richest record in Nordic glacier forelands for these two taxonomic groups. Furthermore, three distinctive stages of succession were determined using TWINSPAN and NMDS: (1) a pioneer colonizer stage; (2) an intermediate successional stage; and (3) two late colonizer stages. Additionally, a species group of omnipresent species was identified. The transition from pioneer stage to early succession was characterized by a high degree of taxonomic replacement. Compared to the findings in 2004, we found that the composition of species groups on relatively old terrain is becoming more similar, while the differences between the species groups on the younger terrain are widening. This discrepancy is discussed in relation to climate warming, which potentially facilitates faster establishment of vegetation and early successional invertebrates and may therefore increase competition stress for cold-adapted pioneer species

Associations of Emergency Department Length of Stay With Publicly Reported Quality-of-care Measures.

OBJECTIVE: The Institute of Medicine identified emergency department (ED) crowding as a critical threat to patient safety. We assess the association between changes in publicly reported ED length of stay (LOS) and changes in quality-of-care measures in a national cohort of hospitals. METHODS: Longitudinal analysis of 2012 and 2013 data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Cost Reports, and CMS Hospital Compare. We included hospitals reporting Hospital Compare timeliness measure of LOS for admitted patients. We used AHA and CMS data to incorporate hospital predictors of interest. We used the method of first differences to test for relationships in the change over time between timeliness measures and six hospital-level measures. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 2,619 hospitals. Each additional hour of ED LOS was associated with a 0.7% decrease in proportion of patients giving a top satisfaction rating, a 0.7% decrease in proportion of patients who would definitely recommend the hospital, and a 6-minute increase in time to pain management for long bone fracture (p \u3c 0.01 for all). A 1-hour increase in ED LOS is associated with a 44% increase in the odds of having an increase in left without being seen (95% confidence interval = 25% to 68%). ED LOS was not associated with hospital readmissions (p = 0.14) or time to percutaneous coronary intervention (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION: In this longitudinal study of hospitals across the United States, improvements in ED timeliness measures are associated with improvements in the patient experience

Navigating Challenges in a Non-Open and Affirming Practicum Placement: A Case of a Queer-Identifying Student in Education

This article presents a case focused on the experiences of a queer-identifying teacher candidate placed in an educational practicum setting lacking an open and affirming environment. The study examines the challenges faced by the student and explores strategies employed to navigate these difficulties. By analyzing the impact of a non-supportive practicum environment compared to a supportive practicum environment on the students’ well-being and professional development, this case sheds light on the classroom implications and broader discussions surrounding the inclusion of queer-identifying individuals in educational settings. This case underscores the significance of creating inclusive and supportive environments within teacher education programs. It emphasizes the need for classroom applications that foster diversity, cultivate brave spaces, and ensure equal opportunities for all students, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity. By discussing the implications of this case, the article offers insights for educators, policymakers, and institutions in promoting inclusive educational practices that empower and support queer-identifying students in practicum placements and beyond

Farm Safety Practices: Reports from Rural Youth in North Carolina

Farms require an extensive labor force to meet production demands. In rural areas, the demand is greater, and farm operators must often rely on family members, including youth, who face unique risks due to farming practices. This quantitative study examined rural high school agricultural education programs in which students participate in family farming operations. The purpose of this study was to determine rural youths’ knowledge about farm safety and health hazards. Participants completed class activities related to farm safety and participated in farm safety demonstrations. It was found that most students reported being slightly knowledgeable about and practiced safety farming practices. It was concluded that, while most students reported having knowledge of farm safety practices, they fail to always practice them. The researchers recommend youth and at a younger age of diverse backgrounds received more farm safety practice initiatives in order to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities

The use of a long-acting tranquilizer (zuclopenthixol acetate) and live video monitoring for successful long-distance transport of caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

Long-distance transport of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) can result in morbidities and mortalities. This case report describes the use of a long-acting tranquilizer, zuclopenthixol acetate (ZA) and live video monitoring (LVM) to transport caribou over 2300 kilometers. Two groups of captive caribou were transported from Fort St. John, British Columbia to Dryden, Ontario (n=14; 28.5 h transport) and Anchorage, Alaska (n=11; 32 h transport).  The day prior to transport, caribou were administered ZA at 1 mg/kg via deep intramuscular (IM) injection.  Digital video cameras allowed for live observation of caribou during transport.  Still images of videos from each compartment in the Ontario transport were analyzed for percentage (%) lying versus standing over three time periods (Day 1, Night, and Day 2).  Overall, caribou spent 57% of the transport lying down, with the highest percentage occurring at night (73%).  As group size and animal density decreased there was a trend for caribou to spend more time lying down.  Three animals developed extrapyramidal effects to the ZA and were effectively treated with midazolam at 0.2 mg/kg IM. There were no significant visible injuries or mortalities during or up to 6 weeks post-transport. Zuclopenthixol acetate and LVM were used to successfully transport  caribou over long distances and should be considered in future translocations to improve animal welfare during transport.