Psychologists' experiences of decision-making in clinical work: A thematic analysis

Within the clinical decision-making literature, one under-researched area is related to psychologists’ decision-making from the perspective of their experience. Given the varied backgrounds of clinical and counselling psychologists, insight is needed into their decision-making experiences to provide a comprehensive overview of clinical practices. This type of approach could offer a bridge between the didactic decision making literature and real world clinical psychotherapeutic work. This qualitative study aimed to explore psychologists’ experiences of clinical decision-making from a critical realist perspective. Eight clinical and counselling psychologists were interviewed, using a gradual reveal case vignette exercise and a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis and the pertinent aspects of participants’ experiences of decision-making were captured in five themes. Each of these themes contains participants’ reflections on the various foci of the therapeutic work that become the point of reference for decision-making at different stages. Additionally, participants discussed the impact of professional experience, reflexivity, and the context of decision-making. Some of the key findings in relation to the decision-making experiences of psychologists show that decision-making is overall a complex and potentially anxiety-provoking aspect of clinical practice. This complexity is a result of uncertainty in the work, which was noted as being tiring. Available literature has thus far neglected these key experiential dynamics within decision-making, creating the potential for a vast gap between theory and practice. Participants have stated that the challenges in ongoing decision-making are balanced by their collaboration with colleagues and attention to self-care. A number of theoretical and clinical implications for research and clinical practice arise as part of the findings of this study. These recommendations are offered with consideration of the cognitive implications of anxiety in clinical decision-making and contextual influences on the varied roles of psychologists

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences_Publication of Texbook Featuring Material Related to the Pandemic

Email thread featuring messages from Steven Barkan, Professor and chairperson, Sociology Department, University of Maine to Timothy M. Cole Associate Dean for Academics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of Political Science University of Maine and Jonathon Jue-Wong, Administrative Coordinator, The Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost, regarding the second edition of Professor Barkan\u27s textbook, Social Problems: Continuity and Change, that features material related to the COVID-19 pandemic

College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture_COVID-19 Related Work Email

Email thread featuring messages from Michael Haedicke to Steven Barkan, Professor and chairperson, Sociology Department, University of Maine and Steven Barkan to Timothy M. Cole Associate Dean for Academics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of Political Science University of Maine regarding articles Professor Haedicke authored on subjects related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Design of A Flexible, High-volume Direct Flue Gas-to-Algae Conversion Process for Value-added Bioproducts

Carbon conversion processes (where carbon dioxide is not only captured and stored, but converted to commercially-valuable products) have high barriers to sustained and large-scale commercial viability. Mass algae production as a means to carbon emissions reductions is considered to have great commercial potential, but the viability of deployment is going to rely on technological leaps supported by strong public and private investment. Presented in this Design Report is a novel pilot-scale microalgae cultivation system that successfully converts over 50% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) present in a stream of flue gas from a coal-red power plant flue gas into valuable biomass. The process operates at a carbon dioxide input rate of 200 kilograms per day from a 10% carbon dioxide by volume flue gas stream. A 9-15% Return on Investment over a 4-5 year period is reported. The project met a set of highly ambitious carbon conversion goals, and contributes to a positive outlook for the future of algae production for sustainable carbon emissions reduction and value-added product creation. This presented design should encourage investment into pilot-scale and demonstration facilities in a move towards large-scale operation. The presented process can be used to convert high volumes of CO2 to valuable biomass that can be sold for many applications ranging from feed to nutraceuticals to biofuels. The innovative Hybrid Petal Reactor design incorporates a central gas exchange column with a horizontal tubular photobioreactor system that harnesses sunlight during the day, and an internally- illuminated nighttime tank that involves innovative use of optics. The outdoor system was designed to scale with a series of tubes that branch out like petals from the central gas exchange column. The tube design is optimized for high productivity and low costs. An emphasis was placed on designing a process highly considerate of biological constraints. The presented final design offers great flexibility and opportunity for scale-up