14,082 research outputs found
Understanding change in psychotherapy: the literature and parents' experiences.
Understanding how change occurs in psychotherapy is imperative in informing clinical practice. Increasing attention has been given to the role that qualitative research could play in enhancing our understanding of therapeutic change. Although quantitative research suggests that parent-child psychotherapy is effective in facilitating change, no research to date has focused on how parents make sense of their change experience.
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse semi-structured interviews of eight parents who had completed parent-child psychotherapy about their understanding of change.
Five master themes emerged which encapsulated participantâs understanding of change. These included constructing a survivor narrative, the experience of being understood enabling further understanding, adjusting expectations and practicing acceptance and feeling empowered to relinquish control. The final theme summarised how despite psychotherapy being conceptualised as a âpreciousâ resource, there was a sense that its limitations could negatively impact participantâs wellbeing.
The study concluded that meaningful elements of change were identified from the parentsâ experience. Findings were discussed in relation to previous research. Limitations and implications for future research and practice were examined
Effect of genotype on duodenal expression of nutrient transporter genes in dairy cows
peer-reviewedBackground
Studies have shown clear differences between dairy breeds in their feed intake and production efficiencies. The duodenum is critical in the coordination of digestion and absorption of nutrients. This study examined gene transcript abundance of important classes of nutrient transporters in the duodenum of non lactating dairy cows of different feed efficiency potential, namely Holstein-Friesian (HF), Jersey (JE) and their F1 hybrid. Duodenal epithelial tissue was collected at slaughter and stored at -80°C. Total RNA was extracted from tissue and reverse transcribed to generate cDNA. Gene expression of the following transporters, namely nucleoside; amino acid; sugar; mineral; and lipid transporters was measured using quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Data were statistically analysed using mixed models ANOVA in SAS. Orthogonal contrasts were used to test for potential heterotic effects and spearman correlation coefficients calculated to determine potential associations amongst gene expression values and production efficiency variables.
Results
While there were no direct effects of genotype on expression values for any of the genes examined, there was evidence for a heterotic effect (Pâ<â0.05) on ABCG8, in the form of increased expression in the F1 genotype compared to either of the two parent breeds. Additionally, a tendency for increased expression of the amino acid transporters, SLC3A1 (Pâ=â0.072), SLC3A2 (Pâ=â0.081) and SLC6A14 (Pâ=â0.072) was also evident in the F1 genotype. A negative (Pâ<â0.05) association was identified between the expression of the glucose transporter gene SLC5A1 and total lactational milk solids yield, corrected for body weight. Positive correlations (Pâ<â0.05) were also observed between the expression values of genes involved in common transporter roles.
Conclusion
This study suggests that differences in the expression of sterol and amino acid transporters in the duodenum could contribute towards the documented differences in feed efficiency between HF, JE and their F1 hybrid. Furthermore, positive associations between the expression of genes involved in common transporter roles suggest that these may be co-regulated. The study identifies potential candidates for investigation of genetic variants regulating nutrient transport and absorption in the duodenum in dairy cows, which may be incorporated into future breeding programmes
An analysis of space power system masses
Various space electrical power system masses are analyzed with particular emphasis on the power management and distribution (PMAD) portion. The electrical power system (EPS) is divided into functional blocks: source, interconnection, storage, transmission, distribution, system control and load. The PMAD subsystem is defined as all the blocks between the source, storage and load, plus the power conditioning equipment required for the source, storage and load. The EPS mass of a wide range of spacecraft is then classified as source, storage or PMAD and tabulated in a database. The intent of the database is to serve as a reference source for PMAD masses of existing and in-design spacecraft. The PMAD masses in the database range from 40 kg/kW to 183 kg/kW across the spacecraft systems studied. Factors influencing the power system mass are identified. These include the total spacecraft power requirements, total amount of load capacity and physical size of the spacecraft. It is found that a new utility class of power systems, represented by Space Station Freedom, is evolving
Quantitative analysis of ruminal methanogenic microbial populations in beef cattle divergent in phenotypic residual feed intake (RFI) offered contrasting diets
peer-reviewedBackground
Methane (CH4) emissions in cattle are an undesirable end product of rumen methanogenic fermentative activity as they are associated not only with negative environmental impacts but also with reduced host feed efficiency. The aim of this study was to quantify total and specific rumen microbial methanogenic populations in beef cattle divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI) while offered (i) a low energy high forage (HF) diet followed by (ii) a high energy low forage (LF) diet. Ruminal fluid was collected from 14 high (H) and 14 low (L) RFI animals across both dietary periods. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was conducted to quantify the abundance of total and specific rumen methanogenic microbes. Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the association between the relative abundance of methanogens and animal performance, rumen fermentation variables and diet digestibility.
Results
Abundance of methanogens, did not differ between RFI phenotypes. However, relative abundance of total and specific methanogen species was affected (Pâ<â0.05) by diet type, with greater abundance observed while animals were offered the LF compared to the HF diet.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that differences in abundance of specific rumen methanogen species may not contribute to variation in CH4 emissions between efficient and inefficient animals, however dietary manipulation can influence the abundance of total and specific methanogen species.Funding for the development and main work of this research was provided
under the National Development Plan, through the Research Stimulus Fund, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Ireland RSF 05 224
Risk Factors for Men Who Have Sex with Men
It is typical for men who have sex with men (MSM) to have several sexual partners, unstable partners, unprotected sex, or intersex relationships, all of which increase the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus. As a result of their behavior and close connection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, MSM individuals have been subjected to a barrage of interrogations, condemnations, and discrimination. Study and analysis of the risk factors of MSMs will not only assist in correctly knowing and comprehending the community, but also aid in the provision of health education, sickness prevention, and treatment
Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Techniques in Environmental Assessment
Digital map products and spatial inventories are becoming increasingly available from geological surveys, agricultural, natural resource, environmental, energy, transportation and forestry departments. As well there are now multitudes of specialized digital airborne and satellite image products available. This wide availability of geographically referenced data and the advances in spatial data analysis software are providing geoscientists with new tools and new ways of viewing traditionally used data.
Through several examples, this paper will demonstrate how remote sensing and GIS technologies can contribute to environmental assessment of an urban fringe area. Nowhere is the need for spatial inventories and mapping greater than in such areas, where pre-existing information becomes rapidly outdated. A 260-km2 site, north of Metropolitan Toronto was chosen as a study area. A spatial data base was constructed which included imagery from three different satellite sensors, a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a digital drainage network, and a digital copy of the Ontario Geological Survey's Quaternary geological map.
Résumé
Un nombre croissant de produits de la cartographie numĂ©rique et d'inventaires spatiaux sont offerts par les services de levĂ©s gĂ©ologiques et les ministĂšres responsables de l'agriculture, des ressources naturelles, de l'environnement, de l'Ă©nergie, des transports, et des forĂȘts. Il existe Ă©galement une multitude de produits numĂ©riques spĂ©cialisĂ©s provenant de l'imagerie satellite ou aĂ©roportĂ©e. Cette grande disponibilitĂ© de donnĂ©es Ă rĂ©fĂ©rences gĂ©ographiques et les nouveautĂ©s en matiĂšre de logiciel d'analyse des donnĂ©es spatiales offrent aux gĂ©oscientifiques de nouveaux outils et de nouvelles façons de considĂ©rer les donnĂ©es habituelles.
Ă l'aide de plusieurs exemples, on dĂ©montre dans le prĂ©sent article comment la tĂ©lĂ©dĂ©tection et les technologies de SIG peuvent ĂȘtre utilisĂ©es dans l'Ă©valuation environnementale des zones pĂ©ri-urbaines. Il n'existe pas d'en-droit oĂč le besoin de donnĂ©es d'inventaires spatiaux et de cartographie soit plus pressant que dans ces banlieues, oĂč l'information existante est sit vite pĂ©rimĂ©e. Une zone d'Ă©tude de 260 km2 situĂ©e au nord de la zone mĂ©tropolitainede Toronto a Ă©tĂ© choisie. Une banque de donnĂ©es spatiales a Ă©tĂ© crĂ©Ă©, et elle renferme des images provenant de trois dĂ©tecteurs satellisĂ©s, un modĂšle numĂ©rique de terrain (MNT), un rĂ©seau de drainage numĂ©risĂ©, et une copie numĂ©rique de la carte gĂ©ologique des dĂ©pĂŽts de Quaternaire de la Commission GĂ©ologique de l'Ontario
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