Professional Courage: What Does It Mean for Practitioner Psychologists?

Are you a brave psychologist? Should you aim to be? What does courage even mean for psychologists? In this article, the concept of professional courage is explored with reference to literature from the fields of philosophy, sociology, management science and psychology. The definition of courage as intentional action towards a worthy goal despite risks to the actor (Rate, 2010) is adopted and applied to professional courage in the course of working as a psychologist. A holistic process model of professional courage is developed and presented as a flow chart which can be used in supervision to help psychologists consider courage in their own practice. Importantly, professionals, including psychologists, may hold multiple worthy goals in mind, and one way of resolving situations calling for courage may be to reappraise the dominant goal and work towards one with fewer risks, therefore reducing the need for courage in the first place

The effect of timing noise on targeted and narrow-band coherent searches for continuous gravitational waves from pulsars

Most searches for continuous gravitational-waves from pulsars use Taylor expansions in the phase to model the spin-down of neutron stars. Studies of pulsars demonstrate that their electromagnetic (EM) emissions suffer from \emph{timing noise}, small deviations in the phase from Taylor expansion models. How the mechanism producing EM emission is related to any continuous gravitational-wave (CW) emission is unknown; if they either interact or are locked in phase then the CW will also experience timing noise. Any disparity between the signal and the search template used in matched filtering methods will result in a loss of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), referred to as `mismatch'. In this work we assume the CW suffers a similar level of timing noise to its EM counterpart. We inject and recover fake CW signals, which include timing noise generated from observational data on the Crab pulsar. Measuring the mismatch over durations of order $\sim 10$ months, the effect is for the most part found to be small. This suggests recent so-called `narrow-band' searches which placed upper limits on the signals from the Crab and Vela pulsars will not be significantly affected. At a fixed observation time, we find the mismatch depends upon the observation epoch. Considering the averaged mismatch as a function of observation time, we find that it increases as a power law with time, and so may become relevant in long baseline searches.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Comparing models of the periodic variations in spin-down and beam-width for PSR B1828-11

We build a framework using tools from Bayesian data analysis to evaluate models explaining the periodic variations in spin-down and beam-width of PSR B1828-11. The available data consists of the time averaged spin-down rate, which displays a distinctive double-peaked modulation, and measurements of the beam-width. Two concepts exist in the literature that are capable of explaining these variations; we formulate predictive models from these and quantitatively compare them. The first concept is phenomenological and stipulates that the magnetosphere undergoes periodic switching between two meta-stable states as first suggested by Lyne et al. The second concept, precession, was first considered as a candidate for the modulation of B1828-11 by Stairs et al.. We quantitatively compare models built from these concepts using a Bayesian odds-ratio. Because the phenomenological switching model itself was informed by this data in the first place, it is difficult to specify appropriate parameter-space priors that can be trusted for an unbiased model comparison. Therefore we first perform a parameter estimation using the spin-down data, and then use the resulting posterior distributions as priors for model comparison on the beam-width data. We find that a precession model with a simple circular Gaussian beam geometry fails to appropriately describe the data, while allowing for a more general beam geometry provides a good fit to the data. The resulting odds between the precession model (with a general beam geometry) and the switching model are estimated as $10^{2.7 \pm 0.5}$ in favour of the precession model.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures; removed incorrect factor of (2\pi) from equation (15), allowed for arbitrary braking index, and revised prior ranges; overall conclusions unchange

The schistosome egg: development and secretions

We have investigated the development of the schistosome egg and its secretions in order to understand how it migrates through gut tissues and also initiates pathology in the liver. We show by electron microscopy that the subshell envelope is absent in the newly deposited egg, but appears very early and differentiates as development progresses. In the mature egg, this nucleated envelope contains extensive endoplasmic reticulum, suggestive of a protein synthetic capacity. Furthermore, Reynolds' layer only appears between the envelope and the egg-shell in the mature egg and may represent its accumulated secretions. We have biosynthetically labelled and collected the secretions (ESP) released by mature but not immature eggs during culture. Their fractionation by SDS–PAGE reveals a simple pattern of 6 bands, differing markedly in composition from soluble egg antigen preparations. Electrophoresis in casein substrate gels demonstrates the presence of 2 distinct proteases in the egg secretions. By immunocytochemistry, ESP localized predominantly to the envelope of the mature egg, suggesting that this layer rather than the miracidium is the source of egg secretions

The relationship between muscular strength and cognition in older adults

Little is known about the correlation between resistance training, muscular strength, and cognition. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between muscular strength and cognition in older adults. Data were collected for this cross sectional study at Butterfield Trail Village, a retirement community in Northwest Arkansas. Thirty participants, at least 65 years of age, without severe mental impairment were evaluated. Of the 30 participants, 23 females were included in the data analysis. The Stroop Color Test, Trail Making Test, and Dual Task Walking Test difference were used to measure executive cognition. Handgrip dynamometry was used as a measure of strength Three correlation analyses were performed to determine the effect of the independent variable, muscular strength, on the dependent variables, domains of executive cognition (represented in Stroop Color Word, Trail Making, and Dual Task evaluations). Statistical significance was set at 0.05 for each analysis. No significant correlation was found between handgrip strength and Trail Making Tests (r = -.21) or Stroop Color Word (r =.01); the results were not statistically significant (p= .34 and p=.966). Moderate correlation was found between handgrip strength and dual task difference (r=-.41), with a trend for significance (p=.052). Dependence on muscular coordination may account for the correlation between handgrip and dual task walking, a physical proxy-measure of cognition. Overall, there is moderate correlation between muscular strength and dual task walking in older community-dwelling women, but no correlation was found between muscular strength and other measures of cognition

Time to publication for NIHR HTA programme-funded research: a cohort study

ObjectiveTo assess the time to publication of primary research and evidence syntheses funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme published as a monograph in Health Technology Assessment and as a journal article in the wider biomedical literature.Study designRetrospective cohort study.SettingPrimary research and evidence synthesis projects funded by the HTA Programme were included in the cohort if they were registered in the NIHR research programmes database and was planned to submit the draft final report for publication in Health Technology Assessment on or before 9 December 2011.Main outcome measuresThe median time to publication and publication at 30?months in Health Technology Assessment and in an external journal were determined by searching the NIHR research programmes database and HTA Programme website.ResultsOf 458 included projects, 184 (40.2%) were primary research projects and 274 (59.8%) were evidence syntheses. A total of 155 primary research projects had a completion date; the median time to publication was 23?months (26.5 and 35.5?months to publish a monograph and to publish in an external journal, respectively) and 69% were published within 30?months. The median time to publication of HTA-funded trials (n=126) was 24?months and 67.5% were published within 30?months. Among the evidence syntheses with a protocol online date (n=223), the median time to publication was 25.5?months (28?months to publication as a monograph), but only 44.4% of evidence synthesis projects were published in an external journal. 65% of evidence synthesis studies had been published within 30.0?months.ConclusionsResearch funded by the HTA Programme publishes promptly. The importance of Health Technology Assessment was highlighted as the median time to publication was 9?months shorter for a monograph than an external journal article

Plasma REST: A novel candidate biomarker of Alzheimer\u27s disease is modified by psychological intervention in an at-risk population

The repressor element 1-silencing transcription (REST) factor is a key regulator of the aging brain’s stress response. It is reduced in conditions of stress and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which suggests that increasing REST may be neuroprotective. REST can be measured peripherally in blood plasma. Our study aimed to (1) examine plasma REST levels in relation to clinical and biological markers of neurodegeneration and (2) alter plasma REST levels through a stress-reduction intervention—mindfulness training. In study 1, REST levels were compared across the following four well-characterized groups: healthy elderly (n=65), mild cognitive impairment who remained stable (stable MCI, n=36), MCI who later converted to dementia (converter MCI, n=29) and AD (n=65) from the AddNeuroMed cohort. REST levels declined with increasing severity of risk and impairment (healthy elderly>stable MCI>converter MCI>AD, F=6.35, P<0.001). REST levels were also positively associated with magnetic resonance imaging-based hippocampal and entorhinal atrophy and other putative blood-based biomarkers of AD (Ps<0.05). In study 2, REST was measured in 81 older adults with psychiatric risk factors for AD before and after a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention or an education-based placebo intervention. Mindfulness-based training caused an increase in REST compared with the placebo intervention (F=8.57, P=0.006), and increased REST was associated with a reduction in psychiatric symptoms associated with stress and AD risk (Ps<0.02). Our data confirm plasma REST associations with clinical severity and neurodegeneration, and originally, that REST is modifiable by a psychological intervention with clinical benefit

Intensive Care Admissions: Predicting Palliative Care Needs in the First 24 Hours

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to determine the proportion of intensive care admissions that required palliative care services during the same admission assessed by an investigator-developed palliative care screening tool. This study also analyzed the screening tool for the number of criteria producing the highest sensitivity and specificity for a palliative care consult occurring during the same hospital stay. METHODS: Retrospective data collection and analysis were performed by randomly selecting 110 patients records from a report obtained through the electronic health record, Epic. The sample was drawn from patients admitted to a medicine intensive care unit (2A) and neurology/neurosurgical intensive care unit (2B) at Baptist Health in Lexington Kentucky, a community-based tertiary care hospital, between April and August 2017. RESULTS: Screening tool items capturing more than one trigger point produced the highest sensitivity and specificity under a ROC curve (.7/.422) resulting in a palliative care consultation during the same hospital stay. The utilization of palliative consultations when criteria on the tool was triggered was low at 20/79 (25.3%) patients. A palliative consult, when indicated, was carried out a median of 5.5 days after the initial admission to the intensive care unit. Missed opportunities for palliative consults were discovered with 8 out of the remaining 59 patients who warranted, but did not receive a consult, died since the reviewed ICU admission. CONCLUSION: Palliative care consultations within the first twenty-four hours of an intensive care admission are needed but carried out at a low rate. The investigator-developed screening tool was effective in identifying the need for palliative care consultation. Palliative care screening tools need further validity testing as no standardize tool currently exists. Customizing tools for individual facility use is recommended and additional criteria should be considered

Heteronormativity and the Ideal Family

Abstract: In this work I argue that the heteronormative nuclear family (HNF) should not be considered the ideal family form as it has been in the past. The HNF assumes that the ideal family should include a monogamous heterosexual couple and their offspring. I argue that the HNF should not be used as an ideal by which to judge family health as there are many different family arrangements outside of the heteronuclear. The HNF should not be confused with particular heteronuclear households as the HNF as an ideal does not refer to any specific family. As some ideal by which to judge family health may be useful, I provide an alternative ideal focusing on function over form. In providing this alternative ideal, I supply one which can be achieved by families outside of the heteronuclear. To make my case against the HNF as the ideal family form, I explain that this ideal promotes a kind of sexism. I support this claim by demonstrating how the HNF is predicated on the assumption of a flawed binary in which the sexes are strictly divided and naturally opposed complements to one another in their gender expression. I go on to point out that the HNF’s history and basis in a strictly divided binary make it particularly apt as a tool to privilege white families who fulfill its form. This is because historically white nuclear families have been the favorite example used for what a healthy family should look like. I deny that the HNF can be effectively used to judge family health; however, an ideal family of some sort may be useful in assessing the suitability or functionality of families which actually exist. In consideration of this possibility, I provide an alternative and obtainable ideal emphasizing function over form. I propose that the ideal family would be a network of care in which each member reliably supports and cares for one another. I also lay out the bounds of the family as a network and how responsibilities and obligations might be understood and their fulfillment assessed