Travelin’ to the Promised Land: Symbolism of the Jordan River in African Spiritual, English Hymn, and American Folksong Selections

Undergraduate Performing Arts - Musi

La qualité relationnelle dans la famille recomposée : perspectives du parent et de l’enfant

Cette recherche porte sur les facteurs associés à la qualité relationnelle dans la famille recomposée. Elle met en relation l'âge de l'enfant, le genre de son parent biologique, le degré de contact avec le parent non gardien et la situation socio-économique familiale avec deux indicateurs de qualité relationnelle : la perception de la qualité du fonctionnement familial et la satisfaction à l'égard de ce fonctionnement. Le rendement scolaire est aussi considéré en tant que mesure du niveau d'adaptation extrafamiliale de l'enfant. L'échantillon se compose de 45 dyades enfant-parent biologique (17 pères et 28 mères) vivant dans des familles recomposées depuis en moyenne trois ans et huit mois. Aucune des hypothèses n'a trouvé d'appui dans les données issues des perceptions parentales. Deux hypothèses ont été confirmées à partir des perceptions des jeunes : a) les enfants de 9 à 11 ans perçoivent une meilleure qualité relationnelle dans leur famille recomposée que les adolescents de 14 à16 ans; et b) dans leur nouvelle famille, les enfants vivant avec leur mère biologique sont plus satisfaits des relations familiales que ceux qui vivent avec leur père biologique. Les conséquences pour la pratique et pour la recherche sont définies

Multilaboratory Evaluation of Real-Time PCR Tests for Hepatitis B Virus DNA Quantification

The performance characteristics of four different assays for hepatitis B virus (HBV) quantification were assessed: the Abbott RealTime HBV IUO, the Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV test, the Roche Cobas TaqMan HBV test with HighPure system, and the Qiagen artus HBV TM ASR. Limit of detection (LOD), linear range, reproducibility, and agreement were determined using a serially diluted plasma sample from a single chronically infected subject. Each assay was tested by at least three laboratories. The LOD of the RealTime and two TaqMan assays was approximately 1.0 log10 IU/ml; for artus HBV (which used the lowest volume of extracted DNA), it was approximately 1.5 log10 IU/ml. The linear range spanned 1.0 to at least 7.0 log10 IU/ml for all assays. Median values were consistently lowest for artus HBV and highest for Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HBV. Assays incorporating automated nucleic acid extraction were the most reproducible; however, the overall variability was minor since the standard deviations for the means of all tested concentrations were ≤0.32 log10 IU/ml for all assays. False-positive results were observed with all assays; the highest rates occurred with tests using manual nucleic acid extraction. The performance characteristics of these assays suggest that they are useful for management and therapeutic monitoring of chronic HBV infection

What factors affect implementation of early rehabilitation into intensive care unit practice? A qualitative study with clinicians

Purpose To identify the barriers and enablers that influence clinicians' implementation of early rehabilitation in critical care. Materials and methods Qualitative study involving 26 multidisciplinary participants who were recruited using purposive sampling. Four focus groups were conducted using semistructured questions to explore attitudes, beliefs, and experiences. Data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was performed. Results Six themes emerged, as follows: (1) the clinicians' expectations and knowledge (including rationale for rehabilitation, perceived benefits, and experience), (2) the evidence for and application of rehabilitation (including beliefs regarding when to intervene), (3) patient factors (including prognosis, sedation, delirium, cooperation, motivation, goals, and family), (4) safety considerations (including physiological stability and presence of devices or lines), (5) environmental influences (staffing, resources, equipment, time, and competing priorities), and (6) culture and teamwork. Key strategies identified to facilitate rehabilitation included addressing educational needs for all multidisciplinary team members, supporting junior nursing staff, and potential expansion of physiotherapy staffing hours to closer align with the 24-hour patient care model. Conclusions Key barriers to implementation of early rehabilitation in critical care are diverse and include both clinician- and health care system–related factors. Research targeted at bridging this evidence-practice gap is required to improve provision of rehabilitation. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Understanding Climatic Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Adaptation in the United States: Building a Capacity for Assessment

Based on the experience of the U.S. National Assessment, we propose a program of research and analysis to advance capability for assessment of climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation options. We identify specific priorities for scientific research on the responses of ecological and socioeconomic systems to climate and other stresses; for improvement in the climatic inputs to impact assessments; and for further development of assessment methods to improve their practical utility to decision-makers. Finally, we propose a new institutional model for assessment, based principally on regional efforts that integrate observations, research, data, applications, and assessment on climate and linked environmental-change issues. The proposed program will require effective collaboration between scientists, resource managers, and other stakeholders, all of whose expertise is needed to define and prioritize key regional issues, characterize relevant uncertainties, and assess potential responses. While both scientifically and organizationally challenging, such an integrated program holds the best promise of advancing our capacity to manage resources and the economy adaptively under a changing climate