The effectiveness of a home-care program for the parents of orthopedically handicapped children

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Radiation temperature measurements of the nitrogen afterglow plasma

Radiation temperature measurements of nitrogen afterglow plasm

An x-band waveguide cell for study of microwave propagation through magnetoplasma technical report no. 16

Metal X-band waveguide cell for study of microwave propagation through magnetoplasm

Microwave measurement of the probability of collision of low energy electrons in nitrogen technical report no. 17

Collision probability for momentum transfer of low energy electrons in nitroge

Minority Stress, Campaign Messages and Political Participation during the Australian Marriage Plebiscite

Background: The health and wellbeing of sexual minorities is adversely impacted by a set of factors collectively known as minority stress. Recently, negative campaigns preceding gay-rights referenda have put further pressure on sexual minorities. However, active participation in political campaigns is expected to foster wellbeing. This study explores the mechanisms through which political campaigns affect negative emotions in sexual minorities. Method: We conducted a survey with 318 Australian sexual minority individuals during the campaign for the same-sex marriage postal vote in 2017. Results: As expected, exposure to negative campaign messages was associated with emotional distress. This association persisted controlling for the effects everyday stress. The effect of exposure to negative campaign messages was no longer significant when controlling for minority stressors like internalized homophobia, expectations of rejection, and everyday discrimination. Political participation was also associated with emotional distress. Post hoc analyses supported a model whereby minority stressors mediated the associations of campaign messages and political participation with distress. Conclusion: As public votes on the rights of sexual minorities become more common, it is important to develop models that can inform policy in protecting such minorities. Minority stress provides a flexible theoretical framework that can incorporate these new challenges

Sibling constellations and wellbeing in intact and non-intact families

Background: There is little research on the impact of sibling relations on the development of resilience in families experiencing break up. Methods: The role of sex of siblings in family structures was explored in relation to mental health in young adults in a sample of 927 participants (460 males and 467 females), aged 18-21 years old. In addition the potential mediating relationship of family relations, self-efficacy, optimism and social support were added to the mix in order to provide some ex-planatory mechanism for any relationship that might exist. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance and path analysis were used and findings suggest that the presence of a female sib-ling may be a protective factor and may operate through improving family relationships and increasing self-efficacy, optimism, and perceived social support. Conclusions: It is suggested that the sex structure of siblings should be considered in any family focused intervention to improve mental health

Family Structure and Psychologyical Health in Young Adults

This study explored the effect of the gendered structure of siblings in intact and non-intact families, on family relations, social support, perceived control, and psychological distress in a sample of 708 young adults (294 males and 414 females) aged between 18 - 21 years. Of the sample 96 were singletons, 208 had both a brother and sister, 206 had a brother and no sister, and 198 had a sister and no brother. While the results show that both the gender of the participants and the gender of the sibling seem to impact on distress and its mediators; the more important factor is the gender of siblings. In essence the presence of a female sibling is associated with more perceived support, control and optimism, and with lower pessimism and psychological distress. The presence of a female is also associated with better family relations overall and it is suggested that the main mechanism for this positive impact of female siblings is through the lowered conflict and increased expressiveness and cohesion experienced in female versus male dominated sibling groups

Adult male rape myths in England since 1994: A systemic mixed methods review.

Adult male rape, defined as a man sexually assaulting another man, became legally recognized by English law through the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (1994). However, the rate of reporting male rape in England remains low compared to female rape and other nonsexual intimate partner violence. Scholars suggest that the low reporting rate could be partly attributed to the persistence of male rape myths (MRM) in society. For this reason, this article reviews the literature on MRM in England and Wales since 1994. This period is significant as it marks the time when erroneous beliefs began to be recognized as myths. Using a mixed-methods approach within a systematic review framework, we identified, evaluated, and synthesized empirical evidence from 11 studies to address our research question. The thematic synthesis of these studies revealed the persistence of certain MRM in England, often tied to stereotypical gender roles and endorsement of homophobic beliefs. However, the review identified limitations, such as the type of rape the studies focused on and their limited applicability, given that most employed student samples. Future research should explore perceptions of male rape using qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches with professionals, male survivors, and community samples. Additionally, future research should challenge the acceptance of MRM and raise awareness of male rape in England. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved

Skin microvascular vasodilatory capacity in offspring of two parents with Type 2 diabetes

Aims<br/> Microvascular dysfunction occurs in Type 2 diabetes and in subjects with fasting hyperglycaemia. It is unclear whether this dysfunction relates to dysglycaemia. This study investigated in normogylcaemic individuals whether a genetic predisposition to diabetes, or indices of insulin resistance including endothelial markers, were associated with impaired microvascular function.<br/> Methods<br/> Maximum microvascular hyperaemia to local heating of the skin was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry in 21 normoglycaemic subjects with no family history of diabetes (Group 1) and 21 normoglycaemic age, sex and body mass index-matched offspring of two parents with Type 2 diabetes (Group 2). <br/>Results<br/> Although Group 2 had normal fasting plasma glucose and glucose tolerance tests, the 120-min glucose values were significantly higher at 6.4 (5.3-6.6) mmol/l (median (25th-75th centile)) than the control group at 4.9 (4.6-5.9) mmol/l (P=0.005) and the insulinogenic index was lower at 97.1 (60.9-130.8) vs. 124.0 (97.2-177.7) (P=0.027). Skin maximum microvascular hyperaemia (Group 1: 1.56 (1.39- 1.80) vs. Group 2: 1.53 (1.30-1.98) V, P=0.99) and minimum microvascular resistance which normalizes the hyperaemia data for blood pressure (Group 1: 52.0 (43.2-67.4) vs. Group 2: 56.0 (43.7-69.6) mmHgN, P=0.70) did not differ in the two groups. Significant positive associations occurred between minimum microvascular resistance and indices of the insulin resistance syndrome; plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (R-s=0.46, P=0.003), t-PA (R-s=0.36, P=0.03), total cholesterol (R-s=0.35, P=0.02), and triglyceride concentration (R-s=0.35, P=0.02), and an inverse association with insulin sensitivity (R-s=-0.33, P=0.03).<br/> Conclusions<br/> In normoglycaemic adults cutaneous microvascular vasodilatory capacity is associated with features of insulin resistance syndrome, particularly with plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. A strong family history of Type 2 diabetes alone does not result in impairment in the maximum hyperaemic response

An accurate, nontraumatic ultrasonic method to monitor myocardial wall thickening in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

AbstractMeasurement of systolic wall thickening by sonomicrometry provides an accurate index of regional left ventricular function, but the trauma of crystal insertion limits its widespread clinical use. The first clinical application of a 10 MHz ultrasonic Doppler probe that can be either sutured or applied by suction to the epicardium and can measure wall thickening at any depth of the left ventricular wall is described. In 18 dogs, measurements obtained with the suction probe correlated well (r = 0.97) with those of a previously validated sutured probe.To assess clinical feasibility, the probe was applied to the epicardium of patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Good quality wall thickening signals were obtained with no complications. Transmural left ventricular thickening fraction before bypass surgery was 34 ± 3% (mean value ± SE) at the mid-ventricular lateral wall, 33 ± 4% at the anterior basal wall and 26 ± 4% at the mid-ventricular posterior wall. Right ventricular thickening fraction averaged 25 ± 3%. Endocardial thickening fraction tended to exceed epicardial thickening fraction, although the difference attained statistical significance (p < 0.05) only at the anterior basal wall.On average, thickening fraction during the immediate postoperative period remained unchanged compared with the preoperutive values, but a marked individual variability was observed, with 7 of 15 patients exhibiting a decrease and 8 an increase. Exteriorization of the wires attached to the sutured probe allowed continuous in situ monitoring of wall thickening in the postoperative period and subsequent removal of the probe, in six patients the crystal was left in place for 48 to 72 h after surgery and then removed without complications; good wall thickening signals were obtained for the entire period during which the probe was implanted.Thus, the Doppler probe is an accurate, atraumatic method for measuring right and left ventricular regional function. Transmural, endocardial and epicardial function can be mapped at various sites during surgery, and postoperatively one can monitor serial changes of regional function and assess the effects of cardioplegia and other therapeutic interventions. This technique should be useful for both investigative and clinical purposes