Black people’s experiences of therapy

There are many health inequalities experienced by Black African-Caribbean communities within the United Kingdom (UK) and United States of America (USA). Individual, interpersonal and structural factors associated with these inequalities, may impact access to therapy, and the experience and outcomes of psychological therapy. Studies looking at Black people’s experiences of therapy have been helpful in identifying helpful and unhelpful processes however, there have been no prior reviews collating these experiences. This review explores and synthesises data from qualitative studies focusing on Black people’s experiences of different models of psychological therapy in the UK and USA. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A thematic synthesis was conducted, creating six overall themes; impact of racism and stereotypes, socio-cultural perceptions of mental health, therapeutic alliance, positive change within therapy, helpful and unhelpful structures of therapy and cultural adaptation. Generally, Black people who participated in the studies reported positive experiences of therapy, which was facilitated by a positive therapeutic alliance, acquiring specific skills, and appropriate cultural adaptation. Further research is required in examining Black people’s experience of therapy within different settings within the UK, as most of the studies identified were based in the USA

High frequency homogenisation for elastic lattices

A complete methodology, based on a two-scale asymptotic approach, that enables the homogenisation of elastic lattices at non-zero frequencies is developed. Elastic lattices are distinguished from scalar lattices in that two or more types of coupled waves exist, even at low frequencies. Such a theory enables the determination of effective material properties at both low and high frequencies. The theoretical framework is developed for the propagation of waves through lattices of arbitrary geometry and dimension. The asymptotic approach provides a method through which the dispersive properties of lattices at frequencies near standing waves can be described; the theory accurately describes both the dispersion curves and the response of the lattice near the edges of the Brillouin zone. The leading order solution is expressed as a product between the standing wave solution and long-scale envelope functions that are eigensolutions of the homogenised partial differential equation. The general theory is supplemented by a pair of illustrative examples for two archetypal classes of two-dimensional elastic lattices. The efficiency of the asymptotic approach in accurately describing several interesting phenomena is demonstrated, including dynamic anisotropy and Dirac cones.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figure

Assessing the feasibility of a one-pot, tandem olefin metathesis and isomerization sequence to synthesize conjugated aromatic olefins

The synthesis of substituted phenylpropene dimers using a one-pot, tandem olefin metathesis and isomerization sequence has been studied. This sequence relies on the facilitated, in-situ conversion of a ruthenium carbene species (Ru=C) to a ruthenium hydride species (Ru-H) upon addition of an inorganic hydride source. Three separate reactions occur within one reaction flask: 1) olefin metathesis of the starting phenylpropene to yield phenylpropene dimer via Ru=C catalyst, 2) conversion of Ru=C to Ru-H via addition of an inorganic hydride source, 3) isomerization of phenylpropene dimer via insertion and β-hydride elimination to yield conjugated product. The focus of the study has been to determine optimal reaction conditions to facilitate the formation of a high yield of dimerized product. Thus far, the isolation of the dimerized product has been elusive due to the thermodynamically favorable formation of the isomerized dimer product. The isomerized dimer has been observed to undergo further olefin metathesis via the action of residual Ru=C catalyst resulting in the formation of several metathesis alkene products. A variety of metathesis products in the crude reaction mixture has been consistently detected via 1H NMR spectroscopy under a range of experimental conditions

A case report: a very rarely occurring snakebite

Snake bite is one of the most neglected public health issues in poor rural communities living in the tropics. The venomous bites and stings during pregnancy are very rare and it cause significant adverse effects on fetus and mother. Multiple snake bites to two different individuals by a same snake at the same time are rarely reported in literatures. In present case report, husband and wife with two and half month of pregnancy were bitten with multiple bites by same snake at the same time. This unusual and interesting case occurred in a rural area of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is also believed that snake discharges maximum of venom on first bite, which may be fatal compared to subsequent bites. The uniqueness of this case lies in the fact that second bite was more serious than the first bite. Woman with two and half month of pregnancy who was bitten first and hade minor effect, and no negative effects on fetus. Man bitten latter with multiple bites and was affected seriously. Both the patients were successfully treated at our hospital.

Endogenous transforming growth factor β1 suppresses inflammation and promotes survival in adult CNS

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is a pleiotropic cytokine with potent neurotrophic and immunosuppressive properties that is upregulated after injury, but also expressed in the normal nervous system. In the current study, we examined the regulation of TGFβ1 and the effects of TGFβ1 deletion on cellular response in the uninjured adult brain and in the injured and regenerating facial motor nucleus. To avoid lethal autoimmune inflammation within 3 weeks after birth in TGFβ1-deficient mice, this study was performed on a T- and B-cell-deficient RAG2-/- background. Compared with wild-type siblings, homozygous deletion of TGFβ1 resulted in an extensive inflammatory response in otherwise uninjured brain parenchyma. Astrocytes increased in GFAP and CD44 immunoreactivity; microglia showed proliferative activity, expression of phagocytosis-associated markers [αXβ2, B7.2, and MHC1 (major histocompatibility complex type 1)], and reduced branching. Ultrastructural analysis revealed focal blockade of axonal transport, perinodal damming of axonal organelles, focal demyelination, and myelin debris in granule-rich, phagocytic microglia. After facial axotomy, absence of TGFβ1 led to a fourfold increase in neuronal cell death (52 vs 13%), decreased central axonal sprouting, and significant delay in functional recovery. It also interfered with the microglial response, resulting in a diminished expression of early activation markers [ICAM1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1), α6β1, and αMβ2] and reduced proliferation. In line with axonal and glial findings in the otherwise uninjured CNS, absence of endogenous TGFβ1 also caused an ∼10% reduction in the number of normal motoneurons, pointing to an ongoing and potent trophic role of this anti-inflammatory cytokine in the normal as well as in the injured brain. Copyright © 2007 Society for Neuroscience

High power TiO2 and high capacity Sn-doped TiO2 nanomaterial anodes for lithium-ion batteries

A range of phase-pure anatase TiO2 (∼5 nm) and Sn-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with the formula Ti1-xSnxO2 (where x = 0, 0.06, 0.11 and 0.15) were synthesized using a continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS) reactor. Charge/discharge cycling tests were carried out in two different potential ranges of 3 to 1 V and also a wider range of 3 to 0.05 V vs Li/Li+. In the narrower potential range, the undoped TiO2 nanoparticles display superior electrochemical performance to all the Sn-doped titania crystallites. In the wider potential range, the Sn-doped samples perform better than undoped TiO2. The sample with composition Ti0.85Sn0.15O2, shows a capacity of ca. 350 mAh g−1 at an applied constant current of 100 mA g−1 and a capacity of 192.3 mAh g−1 at a current rate of 1500 mA g−1. After 500 charge/discharge cycles (at a high constant current rate of 382 mA g−1), the same nanomaterial anode retains a relatively high specific capacity of 240 mAh g−1. The performance of these nanomaterials is notable, particularly as they are processed into electrodes, directly from the CHFS process (after drying) without any post-synthesis heat-treatment, and they are made without any conductive surface coating