The Integration of a Behavioral Health Provider in a University Health Center

Depression and suicidality rates among U.S. college students are rising, along with a surge in urgent mental health needs. Behavioral health care has traditionally been siloed and outside the doors of primary care. Integrating behavioral health services into primary care is an optimal access point for the timely diagnosis of college-age youth to be screened and assessed for mental health care. This program evaluation project sought to measure staff and provider confidence, competence, and satisfaction in treating and managing college student mental health conditions before and after hiring a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) in an on-campus university primary care clinic. The results indicate that despite a small sample size, integrating a PMHNP in the primary care setting can improve providers\u27 satisfaction across all aspects of providing mental healthcare

Pluralistic counselling versus counselling as usual for young people presenting with addiction issues:a pilot randomised controlled trial

Aim: The purpose of this study was to pilot a randomised controlled trial that aimed to test the hypothesis that counselling utilising a pluralistic framework was more effective than counselling as usual for young people experiencing issues as a result of their addiction. Method: Sixty‐four clients presenting with issues of addiction were allocated to either a counselling‐as‐usual (n = 33) or a pluralistic (n = 31) intervention. Psychometric measures (YP‐CORE and SDQ) were taken at baseline, endpoint and 3‐month follow‐up to compare changes in levels of psychological distress. Results: The use of a randomised controlled trial in practice‐based research was found to be feasible to both clients and the organisation in which the study took place. Recruitment and retention rates were acceptable. No statistically significant differences between groups were found on the primary and secondary measures. Discussion: The findings highlight the feasibility and acceptability of conducting such research within this unique context. The findings give preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of both counselling interventions. The absence of significant differences on our primary outcome between the two arms in this trial is not unexpected given its lack of power. Further research should continue to develop protocols to further maximise client retention and counsellor adherence

Presidential Communication to Children: An Analysis of Persuasive Strategies in Presidential Speeches

This thesis explores the content of presidential communication to children, specifically the only three presidential speeches that have been designed for children. These three speeches are President Barack Obama\u27s speech to children in 2009, George H.W. Bush\u27s speech to children in 1991, and Ronald Reagan\u27s speech to children in 1988. Through content analysis this thesis was designed to determine whether persuasive strategies were used in these messages to children, and if persuasive strategies were present, which ones were used. Through qualitative analysis conducting a focus group discussion with children exposed to one of the presidential speeches, this thesis also explored the speeches from children\u27s perspectives. Political socialization theory is used as framework for developing the study, and three persuasive theories are used for analysis of the speeches. The findings provide insight into presidential communication to children and implications of future research in this area. Findings suggest that persuasive strategies are present and a variety of techniques are utilized in the speeches. The purpose and common topics of these speeches are also explored. Focus group findings support that children can identify persuasive strategies present in the speeches and provide insight into the knowledge children retain from exposure to the communication

Aspects of technology-mediated interaction and its impact on higher education.

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Actividad antioxidante y contenido fenólico total en Caulerpa filiformis (Chlorophyta) de Bahía de Sechura y Bahía de Paracas, Perú

In Peru, Caulerpa filiformis is a marine algae listed as an invasive species. For years, its distribution has been considered to be in the north coast (Isla Lobos de Afuera and Piura) until a recent report of its distribution in the central coast (Ancash, Lima, and Ica). The present investigation aims to determine the main groups of secondary metabolites, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of C. filiformis from Sechura Bay (Piura) and Paracas Bay (Ica). The main chemical groups were determined through phytochemical screening, the content of phenols by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and antioxidant activity by the ABTS method (2,2-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]) and 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The phytochemical screening of the methanolic extract of C. filiformis from Sechura Bay and Paracas Bay revealed the presence of carbohydrates, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, lipids, alkaloids, steroids, and triterpenes for both extracts. The total phenol content of the extract of C. filiformis from Sechura Bay (39.31 ± 0.39 mg of AGE/g extract) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that from Paracas Bay (18.78 ± 0.31 mg of AGE/g extract). In the ABTS and DPPH assays, the antioxidant capacity of the Sechura C. filiformis extract (IC50 = 3.49 ± 0.01 and 2.18 ± 0.02 mg/mL) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the Paracas C. filiformis extract (IC50 = 6.41 ± 0.02 and 2.42 ± 0.04 mg /mL). These findings suggest that the methanolic extract of C. filiformis is a source of secondary metabolites with an antioxidant potential.En Perú, Caulerpa filiformis es una macroalga catalogada como especie invasora. Durante años, su distribución fue considerada en la costa norte (Isla Lobos de Afuera y Piura) hasta un informe reciente de su distribución en la costa central (Ancash, Lima e Ica). El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar los principales grupos de metabolitos secundarios, contenido total de fenol y actividad antioxidante del extracto metanólico de C. filiformis de Bahía de Sechura (Piura) y Bahía de Paracas (Ica). Los principales grupos químicos se determinaron mediante análisis fitoquímico, el contenido de fenoles mediante el método Folin-Ciocalteu y la actividad antioxidante mediante el método ABTS (ácido 2,2-azinobis- [3-etilbenzotiazolina-6-sulfónico]) y 2, 2′-difenil-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). El examen fitoquímico del extracto metanólico de C. filiformis de ambas bahías revelaron la presencia de carbohidratos, polifenoles, taninos, flavonoides, lípidos, alcaloides, esteroides y triterpenos. El contenido total de fenol del extracto de C. filiformis de Bahía de Sechura (39.31 ± 0.39 mg de extracto de AGE / g) fue significativamente mayor (p <0.05) que el de Bahía de Paracas (18.78 ± 0.31 mg de extracto de AGE / g). En los ensayos ABTS y DPPH, la capacidad antioxidante del extracto de Sechura (IC50 = 3.49 ± 0.01 y 2.18 ± 0.02 mg / mL) fue significativamente mayor (p <0.05) que la del extracto de Paracas C. filiformis (IC50 = 6.41 ± 0.02 y 2.42 ± 0.04 mg / mL). Estos hallazgos sugieren que el extracto metanólico de C. filiformis es una fuente de metabolitos secundarios con potencial antioxidante

Mothers of Sexually Abused Children and the Concept of Collusion

This study reports the perspectives of clinical social workers on the mothers of sexually abused children whom they saw for treatment. The subjects were 15 masters-level social workers in an urban child treatment program. The study used qualitative methods based on grounded theory to examine professionals\u27 social constructions of mothers of sexually abused children. The child\u27s disclosure of incest provided the study\u27s conceptual focus, since historically professionals constructed the collusive mother, even though prior empirical research never supported maternal collusion or culpability for incest. Respondents were interviewed for approximately one hour using a semi-structured interview guide; nearly one hundred hours of clinical case conferences were observed; and corresponding written treatment summaries were read and evaluated. Findings revealed: (1) that the political, social and fiscal context of agency clinical social work practice influenced respondents\u27 constructions of mothers of sexually abused children; (2) that these clinical social workers ranked mothers along continua representing post-disclosure actions and beliefs, and used concepts derived from trauma theory to account for these; (3) the case conferences constituted social rituals with manifest and latent functions, with both functions affecting how clinicians constructed mothers. Implications for social work practice, administration, research and policy are discussed

The State of the Extended Family System in Ghana: Perceptions of Some Families

Family is one of the oldest and important social institutions in the world. Its structure can either be a small family size (nuclear family structure) or a much broader family size (extended family structure). Traditionally, Africans tend to revere and arrange their lives around the extended family line whose membership include, spouses and their children together with other relations of common descent such as grandparents, uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and cousins. Social change in modern times has however, cause great transformation in every area of society with the family not spared. This study therefore aims at finding out the state of the extended family in the midst of these changes in society. Methodologically, a qualitative research technique was employed with participants selected from Teshie and Nungua Townships, within the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Open-ended questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were the main data collection methods used to collect data from 60 participants consisting of 50 members of family and 10 heads of family. The study’s findings revealed that the traditional extended family has undergone some transformation marked by a drift towards modernized nuclear family system. The study also revealed that in spite of this drift, the extended family still has quite a strong hold in Ghana continuing to play some effective social welfare roles on occasions such as birth of a child, marriage and funeral rites. Finally, the study revealed that with some consented effort on the parts of both the family and the state it is possible to reduce the impact of modern trends on the extended family by the introduction of Guidance and Counselling programmes in our communities to improve our way of life. Keywords: Family, extended family, nuclear family, socio-cultur

On-Orbit Teflon(trademark) FEP Degradation

During the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Second Servicing Mission (SM2), degradation of unsupported Teflon(trademark) FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), used as the outer layer of the multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets, was evident as large cracks on the telescope light shield. A sample of the degraded outer layer was retrieved during the mission and returned to Earth for ground testing and evaluation. The results of the Teflon(trademark) FEP sample evaluation and additional testing of pristine Teflon FEP led the investigative team to theorize that the HST damage was caused by thermal cycling with deep-layer damage from electron and proton radiation which allowed the propagation of cracks along stress concentrations, and that the damage increased with the combined total dose of electrons, protons, UV and x-rays along with thermal cycling. This paper discusses the testing and evaluation of the Teflon(trademark) FEP

MicroRNA-122-dependent and -independent replication of Hepatitis C Virus in Hep3B human hepatoma cells

AbstractThe study of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has benefitted from the use of the Huh7 cell culture system, but until recently there were no other widely used alternatives to this cell line. Here we render another human hepatoma cell line, Hep3B, permissive to the complete virus life cycle by supplementation with the liver-specific microRNA miR-122, known to aid HCV RNA accumulation. When supplemented, Hep3B cells produce J6/JFH-1 virus titres indistinguishable from those produced by Huh7.5 cells. Interestingly, we were able to detect and characterize miR-122-independent replication of di-cistronic replicons in Hep3B cells. Further, we show that Argonaute-2 (Ago2) is required for miR-122-dependent replication, but dispensable for miR-122-independent replication, confirming Ago2's role in mediating the activity of miR-122. Thus Hep3B cells are a model system for the study of HCV, and miR-122 independent replication is a model to identify proteins involved in the function of miR-122

Perceptions of New Principal Mentoring Programs in a Large Urban School District

The principalship has changed significantly over the past 20 years. Today’s principals must be effective instructional leaders, managers of large facilities, and experts at analyzing data to successfully meet the accountability demands of high-stakes testing, along with state, and federal mandates. The primary purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how 43 first- and second-year sitting school principals perceived their mentoring experiences and the degree to which a principal mentoring program—offered by their large urban school district—was effective in building their leadership capacity. A second purpose of this inquiry was to understand these principals’ perceptions of the most beneficial aspects of the mentoring program. The study used quantitative data gathered via an online questionnaire distributed during Fall 2015. The results indicated that respondents perceived that the components of the large urban school-mentoring program were generally effective in training principal mentees to become highly-effective school leaders. This study enriches the literature on mentoring by providing the voices of first and second year school leaders to add depth to the characteristics of successful mentoring programs