Strengths of Australian Aboriginal cultural practices in family life and child rearing

This paper explores some of the characteristics of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices that contribute to effective family functioning, and how these practices can have positive effects on children and communities. The approach is to gather the views of Aboriginal families and compare these perspectives with supporting evidence drawn from the literature. The findings suggest that, provided the necessary social conditions are in place, culture can be a protective force for children, families and communities. Key Messages Aboriginal kinship relations reflect a complex and dynamic system that is not captured by existing non- Indigenous definitions of family. Emerging evidence supports some of the strengths of traditional Aboriginal culture in family functioning and raising children, yet conventional academic wisdom can be incompatible with traditional Aboriginal knowledge systems. The strengths of Aboriginal cultural traditions, as they apply to family life and raising children, revolve around four interrelated themes, including: –    Theme 1: A collective community focus on child rearing helps children—The values of interdependence, group cohesion and community loyalty are key features of Aboriginal family and community life, where raising children is considered to be a shared responsibility of all community members. –    Theme 2: Children need the freedom to explore and experience the world—Aboriginal communities offer their children every opportunity to explore the world around them, to help them develop the necessary skills to successfully negotiate their pathways to adulthood. –    Theme 3: Elderly family members are important to family functioning—The elderly are highly respected for their contributions to family life in Aboriginal communities, particularly in helping children to understand the practical aspects of life and society. –    Theme 4: Spirituality helps families cope with challenges—Families and communities who engage in spiritual practices benefit from a greater sense of identity, and individuals are more likely to connect with, support and help protect one another

The use of basic fibroblast growth factor to improve vocal function: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis examines if intralaryngeal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) can improve voice outcomes in those with vocal disability. DESIGN: A Systematic review of original human studies reporting voice outcomes following intra-laryngeal injection of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 in those with vocal dysfunction. Databases searched were Medline (1946-July 2022), Embase (1947-July 2022), Cochrane database and Google Scholar. SETTING: Secondary or tertiary care centres that undertook the management of voice pathology Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Inclusion criteria were original human studies reporting voice outcome measurements following intralaryngeal injection of FGF2 to treat vocal fold atrophy, vocal fold scarring, vocal fold sulcus or vocal fold palsy. Articles not written in English, studies that did not include human subjects and studies where voice outcome measures were not recorded before and after FGF2 injection were excluded from the review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was maximum phonation time. Secondary outcome measures included acoustic analysis, glottic closure, mucosal wave formation, voice handicap index and GRBAS scale. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included out of a search of 1023 and one article was included from scanning reference lists. All studies had a single arm design without control groups. Conditions treated were vocal fold atrophy (n = 186), vocal cord paralysis (n = 74), vocal fold fibrosis (n = 74) and vocal fold sulcus (n = 56). A meta-analysis of six articles reporting on the use of FGF2 in patients with vocal fold atrophy showed a significant increase of mean maximum phonation time of 5.2 s (95% CI: 3.4-7.0) at 3-6 months following injection. A significant improvement in maximum phonation time, voice handicap index and glottic closure was found following injection in most studies assessed. No major adverse events were reported following injection. CONCLUSIONS: To date, intralaryngeal injection of basic FGF2 appears to be safe and it may be able to improve voice outcomes in those with vocal dysfunction, especially vocal fold atrophy. Randomised controlled trials are needed to further evaluate efficacy and support the wider use of this therapy

Exploration of family carers' experiences of support for rapid discharge arrangements for end-of-life care at home: a qualitative study.

Family carers play an integral role in achieving successful hospital discharge, especially when people would prefer to die at home (Larsson et al. 2018). In the North East of Scotland, there is a lack of information on how prepared family carers were, when their loved ones were discharged rapidly from hospital to home. The aim of this study was to explore these carers' experiences of support for rapid discharge for end-of-life care at home. This presentation was awarded the "Scientific Reviewers' Prize" at the 2022 NHS Grampian Research and Development Conference

A real time, longitudinal, qualitative evaluation of the first two cohorts to participate in the Queen’s Nurse Development Programme.

Background: The Queens Nurse Development Programme (QNDP) has been delivered to community nurses in Scotland since 2017, born out of a commitment to reintroduce the Queen’s Nurse title in Scotland after 50 years. The aim of the QNDP was to connect individuals with a shared passion for delivering high - quality nursing throughout Scotland’s communities, to create a safe space where participants could develop and grow on a personal level to become change makers, to inspire others, help those most in need and champion community nursing. As such, the participants selected were employed in a wide-range of diverse roles, from throughout Scotland. The programme takes place over a nine-months, during which participants engaged with a varied programme involving residential workshops, where they experienced a range of creative and contemplative awareness based change practices, the development of a practice issue, and individual coaching. This report presents an independent evaluation of the QNDP based on the first two cohorts of participants to engage with the programme (2017 & 2018). Evaluating the QNDP is important to optimise the programme for subsequent cohorts of Queen’s nurses and to inform the transferability of the programme to other professions and contexts. Methods: A comprehensive, longitudinal, qualitative evaluation, where data was collected at various time points, using interviews, focus groups and a ‘member-checking’ event with all 41 QNDP participants (20 fromcohort 1 and 21 fromcohort 2), as well as 12 community nursing managers and the 3 QNDP facilitators. The purpose was to uncover and explore perceptions and experiences of the QNDP: what was learned; how this was implemented into everyday practice; as well as the impacts and sustainability of changes. The data was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-point framework of analysis; familiarisation, coding, generating themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes and writing up (Clarke et al., 2015). Double coding and independent analysis ensured trustworthy, rigorous and valid findings. Summary and Conclusions: Participants were overwhelmingly positive about the programme, and appreciated its design, facilitation, approach and methods utilised, as well as the resulting impacts and outcomes. Engaging with the QNDP led to an unexpected ‘journey of self-discovery and transformation’, with notable self-development, growth and positive change. Essentially, the programme enabled participants to see through a new lens, re-position themselves and embody new (person-centred) ways of being and doing, which transcended both their personal and professional lives as community nurses, colleagues, ‘leaders’, service providers, networkers, family members and friends. The participants perceptions of this work and learning was that as it was personal, changing their thinking and identity and therefore, the impact of the programme and the personal and professional transformation and changes introduced were perceived to be sustainable for the rest of their professional life and beyond. The programme facilitated the building of close bonds with their peers which enabled them to confidently share problems and challenges, reinforce their learnings and new thinking, and engage them in a journey of transformation. As such, a community of practice has been created within and across the cohorts which has the potential to become a social movement as intended by QNIS. The programme also equipped them with novel, creative approaches, skills and tools that they were able to share with colleagues, friends and family. Thus, the programme achieved a key aim of connecting individuals and equipping QNDP participants with a range of new skills. The findings of this evaluation and the QNDP are likely to be transferable to other health and social care professionals and beyond the Scottish context

Rob Winningham Interview 2019

In a short interview, Rob Winningham discusses his transition from Professor of Behavioral Sciences to several administrative positions at Western Oregon. Dr. Winningham considers his contributions to Western’s community, including the creation of the Academic Excellence Showcase as well as giving insight to his goals and responsibilities as Provost. Dr. Winnigham emphasizes the importance of Western Oregon’s unique academic community

Landcover change in mangroves of Fiji: implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation in the Pacific

Mangrove coverage in Fiji is among the highest of all Pacific island nations. These ecosystems store disproportionate amounts of carbon, provide critically important resources for communities, and protect coastal communities against the impacts of tropical cyclones. They are therefore vital in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. An improved understanding of both the scale and drivers of mangrove loss in Fiji can underpin sustainable management strategies and achieve climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. In this study we assessed mangrove cover, landcover change, and drivers of landcover change for Fiji between 2001 and 2018,as well as the impacts of landcover change on the structural characteristics of mangroves at selected sites on the Fijian island of Viti Levu. Results were then framed within the context of developing management responses, including the potential to develop forest carbon projects. We found Fiji’s mangrove estate to be 65,243 ha, with a loss of 1135 ha between 2001 and 2018 and an annual rate of loss of 0.11%. Tropical cyclones accounted for 77% of loss (~870 ha), with highest losses along the northern coastlines of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Mangrove structural characteristics showed high variability in the level of damage incurred, with taller riverine and hinterland vegetation sustaining greater levels of damage than coastal fringing or scrub mangroves. There was no tropical cyclone damage evident along the southern coastline of Viti Levu, with small-scale harvesting the predominate driver of loss in this region. Because of the large effect of cyclone damage on mangroves in the region, small to medium scale restoration projects may be appropriate interventions to increase mangrove cover and carbon stocks. Where harvesting of mangroves occurs, improved management to avoid deforestation could also provide opportunities to maintain mangrove cover and carbon stocks

Alkene syn- and anti-oxyamination with malonoyl peroxides

Malonoyl peroxide [6] is an effective reagent for the syn- or anti-oxyamination of alkenes. Reaction of [6] and an alkene in the presence of O-tert-butyl-N-tosylcarbamate (R3 = CO2tBu) leads to the anti-oxyaminated product in up to 99% yield. Use of O-methyl-N-tosyl carbamate (R3 = CO2Me) as the nitrogen nucleophile followed by treatment of the product with trifluoroacetic acid leads to the syn-oxyaminated product in up to 77% yield. Mechanisms consistent with the observed selectivities are proposed