A Systematic Review of the Effects of the Body Scan on Stress and Psychopathology

Mindfulness-based practices (MBP) have risen in popularity in research especially as an applied practice to buffer against the deleterious effects of stress and reduce psychopathology (Brown et al., 2012; Khoury et al., 2015). There are significant health problems implicated with stress and psychopathology and as such interventions, such as MBP, are frequently the topic of research to reduce stress and improve health and well-being (Juster et al., 2010; Goldberg et al., 2018). The body scan is an intervention component of MBP that involves a systematic allocation of attention through the somatic sensations of different parts of the body. Body scans are a very common MBP that are found in virtually every multi-component MBP curriculum. However, research summarizing the unique effects of the body scan as a stand-alone MBP to mitigate stress and psychopathology has not yet been studied. Examining the isolated effect of the body scan adds to the MBP literature base by parsing and characterizing the component elements of a MBP practice (i.e., the body scan) which has been indicated as a research direction that may further inform future research and provide clinical applications (Cook-Cottone, 2015). Consequently, the purpose of this narrative systematic review was to characterize the body scan practice as a stand-alone practice to reduce stress and psychopathology, relate this outcome literature to existing MBP research, and provide recommendations for future research and clinical work. This narrative systematic review was the first of its kind to respond to this gap in the literature by examining the body scan as a standalone practice outside of multicomponent mindfulness programs

'A hidden art form' the value of sound in UK television idents (1982-2022)

Television idents are hidden in plain sight. Their creativity is often undervalued by industry practitioners and viewers alike, designated a ‘hidden art form’ by creative executive Charlie Mawer (2020). The sound worlds of idents are doubly overlooked, often ignored in visually-centric discourse on idents in industry journals and in media and cultural studies. In the production process, composers are often peripheral to the project, involved only towards the end. This thesis inverts such hierarchies and adopts a sound-oriented perspective towards idents. The approach brings together previously disparate strands across musicology, art and design history, and media studies, aiming to highlight the value of sound in idents as well as the hitherto-neglected creative labour of composers in the promotion of television channels. The scope is confined mainly to the UK, examining idents produced for broadcasters and streaming platforms between 1982 and 2022. This thesis addresses a central question: What is the value of music and sound in television idents? To answer this question, it combines textual analyses of idents with evidence from practitioner interviews. Musicological concepts and theories are employed in the analysis of idents, highlighting the aesthetic character and functions of the music and sounds. The method of reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) applied to the interviews produced new insights into the working environments of the composers and their creative colleagues, exploring themes of identity, collaboration, creative process, and artistic value. The first three chapters set out the aim of this thesis, academic contexts, and methodological approach respectively. Chapter 4 contains a musicological analysis of idents, tracing transformations in the aesthetic character and roles of sound in connection with the changing experience of watching television between 1982 and 2022. Chapter 5 expands on the arguments set out in Chapter 4 by focussing on production contexts, unpacking themes derived from the qualitative analysis of the interviews. Chapter 6 synthesises the conclusions and findings from Chapters 4 and 5 and discusses the commercial, artistic, and cultural value of the music and sound of idents. This thesis culminates with an exploration of future avenues of research and the implications of this research for practitioners and educators. In sum, this thesis argues that the artistic labour of ident production and the valuable role of musical creativity within this commercial and temporally constraining context deserve greater recognition and attention

Engaging evaluation research: Reflecting on the process of sexual assault/domestic violence protocol evaluation research

In keeping within the theme of CU Expo 2013, ‘Engaging Shared Worlds’, this case study examines and reflects on a complex community-university partnership which developed to conceptualise, design, conduct and communicate evaluation research on one community’s sexual assault and domestic violence protocol. As community-university partners coming together for the first time, we reflect on the purpose of our engagement, the characteristics and principles which define our partnership and our potential to teach graduate students how to undertake community-engaged scholarship.Keywords: Community-engaged research, evaluation research, complex community-university partnerships, scholarship of engagement, practice researc

Improving the communication between care providers of individuals who may require joint replacement surgery (JRS) a framework for referral

Aims &amp; rationale/Objectives : The objective of the project was to specify the information required in referrals to public hospital orthopaedic outpatient departments in order to streamline the care and prioritisation of individuals who may require JRS. It was envisaged that an evidence-based GP-Orthopaedic derived referral system would assist in ensuring that the right person accessed the right care at the right time.Methods : In collaboration with the RACGP and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, a national stakeholder working group was convened. A scoping document was prepared with input from key stakeholders. A review of primary research was undertaken as well as a review of relevant guidelines. Information on the implementation and evaluation of similar programs in Australia and overseas also informed the referral specification.Principal findings : The initial scoping processes with key stakeholders provided clear information on core components of the referral. These were the use of standardised and respected assessment tools to determine the severity of arthritis, fitness for surgery and willingness of affected individuals to undergo surgery.Discussion : About 20,000 JRS occur each year in public hospitals which emanate from 5 to 10 fold number of referrals. Arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases are a national health priority area reflecting the high burden of disease associated with these conditions. Various initiatives are being undertaken to address the quality of life of affected individuals. This project has revealed areas of potential improvement in the communication between care providers of individuals who may need JRS.Implications : The project will result in the development of a standard referral form and guidelines to assist referring practitioners to communicate more effectively with the multidisciplinary care team, in particular orthopaedic care providers. The guidelines will be piloted in a large rural setting.<br /

Exploring young people's and youth workers' experiences of spaces for ‘youth development’: creating cultures of participation

The paper focuses on the emergence of ‘positive youth development’ and its impact on older, more established practices of working with young people, such as youth work. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in England between 2004 and 2006, in particular young people's and youth workers' accounts of participating in youth work, the analysis engages with the social spaces in which youth work takes place and asks key questions about why young people might participate in youth spaces, what they get out of participating and how such spaces can promote cultures of participation. The analysis shows that such spaces provide young people and their communities with biographical continuity and time becomes a key component for sustaining such spaces. The argument is made for a more nuanced understanding of what young people get out of their participation in youth spaces, and for an epistemological approach to youth praxis that embraces the messiness and inequalities of lived experience

Authorship reflexivity statements: additional considerations.

Authorship of scientific publications is key currency in academic systems. It demonstrates scientific contribution and scholarship and is an important tangible output that can strongly influence career progression and access to important resources such as grant income. However, the integrity of authorship as an indicator of contribution is threatened by normalised unfair practices. One such unfair practice is parachute (or helicopter) research—a term used for research based in a host country, usually low-middle- income countries (LMICs), but conducted by external researchers, usually from high-income countries, with lack of appropriate inclusion of local staff as authors, or acknowledgement of the local populations, data or infrastructure on which such research relies

Cognitive endpoints for therapy development for neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses: Results of a consensus procedure

AbstractThe design and conduct of clinical studies to evaluate the effects of novel therapies on central nervous system manifestations in children with neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses is challenging. Owing to the rarity of these disorders, multinational studies are often needed to recruit enough patients to provide meaningful data and statistical power. This can make the consistent collection of reliable data across study sites difficult. To address these challenges, an International MPS Consensus Conference for Cognitive Endpoints was convened to discuss approaches for evaluating cognitive and adaptive function in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses. The goal was to develop a consensus on best practice for the design and conduct of clinical studies investigating novel therapies for these conditions, with particular focus on the most appropriate outcome measures for cognitive function and adaptive behavior. The outcomes from the consensus panel discussion are reported here

Therapy development for the mucopolysaccharidoses : updated consensus recommendations for neuropsychological endpoints

Neurological dysfunction represents a significant clinical component of many of the mucopolysaccharidoses (also known as MPS disorders). The accurate and consistent assessment of neuropsychological function is essential to gain a greater understanding of the precise natural history of these conditions and to design effective clinical trials to evaluate the impact of therapies on the brain. In 2017, an International MPS Consensus Panel published recommendations for best practice in the design and conduct of clinical studies investigating the effects of therapies on cognitive function and adaptive behavior in patients with neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses. Based on an International MPS Consensus Conference held in February 2020, this article provides updated consensus recommendations and expands the objectives to include approaches for assessing behavioral and social-emotional state, caregiver burden and quality of life in patients with all mucopolysaccharidoses