The acceptability of trauma-focused interventions

Introduction and Aim: Previous systematic reviews have explored the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of evidence-based trauma-focused interventions (TFIs). However, ambivalence with TFIs continue to be reported by clinicians and service users, and it remains underutilised as well as having higher dropout rates compared to other psychological therapies. The present review aimed to synthesise both clinicians’ and service users’ experiences and perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to the uptake and deliveryof TFIs, and map the identified factors to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to better inform implementation strategies. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted by searching three databases. Nineteen qualitative and mixed-method studies were selected for review and analysed using thematic synthesis. The identified subthemes were then mapped to the TDF domains. Key Findings: Four themes were generated from the data: Core elements needed to heal from trauma, readiness, therapeutic processes, and factors outside of therapy. The associated subthemes were mapped to 13 of the TDF domains, most of which were salient for both groups. Some unique factors were identified for each group, such as training and supervision for clinicians, and service users reporting the need to strengthen their resilience in engaging with TFIs. Discussion: The interpretation of the findings in the context of previous literature, study limitations, research and clinical implications are discussed. Future studies should simultaneously explore clinicians’ and service users’ experiences with TFIs to allow a direct comparison of the key barriers and facilitators to maximise effective implementation and delivery

Gaussian density fluctuations, mode coupling theory, and all that

We consider a toy model for glassy dynamics of colloidal suspensions: a single Brownian particle diffusing among immobile obstacles. If Gaussian factorization of static density fluctuations is assumed, this model can be solved without factorization approximation for any dynamic correlation function. The solution differs from that obtained from the ideal mode coupling theory (MCT). The latter is equivalent to including only some, positive definite terms in an expression for the memory function. An approximate re-summation of the complete expression suggests that, under the assumption of Gaussian factorization of static fluctuations, mobile particle's motion is always diffusive. In contrast, MCT predicts that the mobile particle becomes localized at a high enough obstacle density. We discuss the implications of these results for models for glassy dynamics.Comment: to be published in Europhys. Let

Service-learning as a core academic component in undergraduate programs - a brief introduction to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University model

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A two-dimensional classification framework for service-learning

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From zero to one : integrating engineering and non-engineering students in a service-learning engineering project

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Learning to serve together : creating an inter-continental classroom for service-learning

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An initial exploration of the cross-cultural validity of the global citizenship scale in the Hong Kong setting

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Broadband dielectric spectroscopy on benzophenone: alpha relaxation, beta relaxation, and mode coupling theory

We have performed a detailed dielectric investigation of the relaxational dynamics of glass-forming benzophenone. Our measurements cover a broad frequency range of 0.1 Hz to 120 GHz and temperatures from far below the glass temperature well up into the region of the small-viscosity liquid. With respect to the alpha relaxation this material can be characterized as a typical molecular glass former with rather high fragility. A good agreement of the alpha relaxation behavior with the predictions of the mode coupling theory of the glass transition is stated. In addition, at temperatures below and in the vicinity of Tg we detect a well-pronounced beta relaxation of Johari-Goldstein type, which with increasing temperature develops into an excess wing. We compare our results to literature data from optical Kerr effect and depolarized light scattering experiments, where an excess-wing like feature was observed in the 1 - 100 GHz region. We address the question if the Cole-Cole peak, which was invoked to describe the optical Kerr effect data within the framework of the mode coupling theory, has any relation to the canonical beta relaxation detected by dielectric spectroscopy.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures; revised version with new Fig. 5 and some smaller changes according to referees' demand

Continuous wave optical parametric oscillator for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic trace gas sensing

A continuous wave optical parametric oscillator, generating up to 300 mW idler output in the 3–4 μm wavelength region, and pumped by a fiber-amplified DBR diode laser is used for trace gas detection by means of quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS). Mode-hop-free tuning of the OPO output over 5.2 cm-1 and continuous spectral coverage exceeding 16.5 cm-1 were achieved via electronic pump source tuning alone. Online monitoring of the idler wavelength, with feedback to the DBR diode laser, provided an automated closed-loop control allowing arbitrary idler wavelength selection within the pump tuning range and locking of the idler wavelength with a stability of 1.7×10-3 cm-1 over at least 30 min.\ud \ud Using this approach, we locked the idler wavelength at an ethane absorption peak and obtained QEPAS data to verify the linear response of the QEPAS signal at different ethane concentrations (100 ppbv-20 ppmv) and different power levels. The detection limit for ethane was determined to be 13 ppbv (20 s averaging), corresponding to a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 4.4×10-7 cm-1  W/Hz1/2