“We deal here with grey”: a grounded theory of professional boundary development in a forensic inpatient service.

Background: The question of how to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients in mental health settings can be complex, particularly for forensic inpatient nurses and healthcare workers. The literature in this area to date has mainly focused on boundary violations with little research on how staff members develop and maintain boundaries in forensic inpatient units, despite safe working relationships being beneficial for staff experience and client recovery. Method: Interviews with eleven psychiatric nurses and healthcare workers from forensic inpatient wards were analysed using a grounded theory methodology. Results: A cyclical model of boundary development was developed in which staff initially acclimatize to the forensic environment using their existing experiences and personal values before entering a calibration phase, where they constantly assess and address professional boundary issues in the course of their daily responsibilities. Staff members use this experience alongside reflection, social learning and clinical supervision to undergo individual learning and team development. In the fourth phase, staff members use this learning to recalibrate their views on boundaries, themselves and how they work with clients. This recalibration impacts on staff members’ further management of daily boundaries providing more material for learning, which leads to further recalibration. Conclusions: This study echoes previous literature suggesting the importance of supervision and reflective spaces in professional boundary understanding. The model is comparable to existing learning theory and highlights the importance of social and experiential learning. There are implications for forensic psychiatric nurses in terms of training, team building, supervision and provision of reflective spaces

An Efficient Spectral Dynamical Core for Distributed Memory Computers

The practical question of whether the classical spectral transform method, widely used in atmospheric modeling, can be efficiently implemented on inexpensive commodity clusters is addressed. Typically, such clusters have limited cache and memory sizes. To demonstrate that these limitations can be overcome, the authors have built a spherical general circulation model dynamical core, called BOB (“Built on Beowulf”), which can solve either the shallow water equations or the atmospheric primitive equations in pressure coordinates. That BOB is targeted for computing at high resolution on modestly sized and priced commodity clusters is reflected in four areas of its design. First, the associated Legendre polynomials (ALPs) are computed “on the fly” using a stable and accurate recursion relation. Second, an identity is employed that eliminates the storage of the derivatives of the ALPs. Both of these algorithmic choices reduce the memory footprint and memory bandwidth requirements of the spectral transform. Third, a cache-blocked and unrolled Legendre transform achieves a high performance level that resists deterioration as resolution is increased. Finally, the parallel implementation of BOB is transposition-based, employing load-balanced, one-dimensional decompositions in both latitude and wavenumber. A number of standard tests is used to compare BOB's performance to two well-known codes—the Parallel Spectral Transform Shallow Water Model (PSTSWM) and the dynamical core of NCAR's Community Climate Model CCM3. Compared to PSTSWM, BOB shows better timing results, particularly at the higher resolutions where cache effects become important. BOB also shows better performance in its comparison with CCM3's dynamical core. With 16 processors, at a triangular spectral truncation of T85, it is roughly five times faster when computing the solution to the standard Held–Suarez test case, which involves 18 levels in the vertical. BOB also shows a significantly smaller memory footprint in these comparison tests

Hepatic toxicity assessment of cationic liposome exposure in healthy and chronic alcohol fed mice

The utilisation of nanoparticles as the means of targeted delivery of therapeutics and/or imaging agents could greatly enhance the specific transport of biologically active payloads to target tissues while avoiding or reducing undesired side-effects. To allow for this to become a reality, the question of potential toxicological effects needs to be addressed. In the present investigation, a cationic liposome with prospective for medical applications was constructed and thoroughly assessed for any material-induced hepatic adverse effects in vivo − in healthy and alcoholic hepatic disease models and in vitro − (HepG2 cells). The data demonstrated that intravenous injection of liposomes did not cause any significant in vivo hepatic toxicity (inflammation, alterations in blood parameters, anti-oxidant depletion, acute phase response and histopathology) at doses of 200 μg per mouse in either healthy or chronically alcohol fed mice. Additionally, the in vitro material-induced adverse effects (cytotoxicity, inflammation or albumin secretion) were all also minimal. The data from this study demonstrated that the intravenous injection of cationic liposomes does not cause hepatic toxicity. This investigation is important as it investigates the toxicity of a nano-sized material in a model of alcoholic hepatic disease in vitro and in vivo. This is an area of research in the field of nanotoxicology that is currently almost entirely overlooked. Keywords: Toxicology, Nanoparticles, Pharmaceutical scienc

The effect of biliary decompression on bacterial translocation in jaundiced rats

Patients with obstructive jaundice are prone to septic complications after biliary tract operations. Restoring bile flow to the intestine may help to decrease the complication rate. The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of biliary decompression on bacterial translocation in jaundiced rats. Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to six groups subjected to common bile duct ligation (CBDL) and transection (groups 2-6) or sham operation (group 1). In groups 1 and 2 the incidence of enteric bacterial translocation was determined 2 weeks after sham operation or CBDL. In groups 3-6, biliary decompression was achieved by performing a choledochoduodenostomy after 2 weeks of biliary decompression. Bacterial translocation was then studied 1, 2, 3 and 5 weeks following biliary decompression. The rate of bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes in obstructive jaundice was significantly higher as compared with controls and decreased with time to nil three weeks following biliary decompression. The incidence of bacterial translocation was closely correlated (r = 0.844; p = 0.034) with serum alkaline phosphatase activity and seemed to fit with the morphological changes noted in the small intestine. The decrease in bacterial translocation, however, lags behind the recovery of liver function as measured by routine liver function tests and antipyrine clearance. Obstructive jaundice thus promotes bacterial translocation in the rat. Biliary decompression gradually decreases the rate of bacterial translocation

Two-Phase Flow Simulations of Surface Waves in Wind-Forced Conditions

The paper is devoted to two-phase flow simulations and investigates the ability of a diffusive interface Cahn-Hilliard Volume-of-Fluid model to capture the dynamics of the air-sea interface at geophysically relevant Reynolds numbers. It employs a hybrid filtered/averaging Improved Detached Eddy Simulation method to model turbulence, and utilizes a continuum model to account for surface tension if the diffuse interface is under-resolved by the grid. A numerical wind-wave tank is introduced to limit computational costs and results obtained for two wind-wave conditions are analyzed in comparison to experimental data at matched Reynolds numbers. The focus of the comparison is on both time-averaged and wave-coherent quantities, and includes pressure, velocity as well as modeled and resolved Reynolds stresses. In general, numerical predictions agree well with the experimental measurements and reproduce many wave-dependent flow features. Reynolds stresses near the water surface are found to be especially important in modulating the critical layer height. It is concluded that the diffusive interface approach proves to be a promising method for future studies of air-sea interface dynamics in geophysically relevant flows

Modest vasomotor dysfunction induced by low doses of C60 fullerenes in apolipoprotein E knockout mice with different degree of atherosclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to small size particulate matter in urban air is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular effects, whereas there is little information about the impact on the cardiovascular system by exposure to pure carbonaceous materials in the nano-size range. C₆₀fullerenes are nano-sized particles that are expected to have a widespread use, including cosmetics and medicines.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the association between intraperitoneal injection of pristine C₆₀fullerenes and vasomotor dysfunction in the aorta of 11–13 and 40–42 weeks old apolipoprotein E knockout mice (apoE^-/-) with different degree of atherosclerosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The aged apoE^-/-mice had lower endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation elicited by acetylcholine in aorta segments mounted in myographs and the phenylephrine-dependent vasoconstriction response was increased. One hour after an intraperitoneal injection of 0.05 or 0.5 mg/kg of C₆₀fullerenes, the young apoE^-/-mice had slightly reduced maximal endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. A similar tendency was observed in the old apoE^-/-mice. Hampered endothelium-independent vasorelaxation was also observed as slightly increased EC₅₀of sodium nitroprusside-induced vasorelaxation response in young apoE^-/-mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Treatment with C₆₀fullerenes affected mainly the response to vasorelaxation in young apoE^-/-mice, whereas the vasomotor dysfunction in old apoE^-/-mice with more advanced atherosclerosis was less affected by acute C₆₀fullerene treatment. These findings represent an important step in the hazard characterization of C₆₀fullerenes by showing that intraperitoneal administration is associated with a moderate decrease in the vascular function of mice with atherosclerosis.</p

Pulmonary exposure to carbon black nanoparticles and vascular effects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to small size particulates is regarded as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We exposed young and aged apolipoprotein E knockout mice (<it>apoE^-/-</it>) to carbon black (Printex 90, 14 nm) by intratracheal instillation, with different dosing and timing, and measured vasomotor function, progression of atherosclerotic plaques, and VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and 3-nitrotyrosine in blood vessels. The mRNA expression of <it>VCAM-1</it>, <it>ICAM-1</it>, <it>HO-1</it>, and <it>MCP-1 </it>was examined in lung tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Young <it>apoE^-/-</it>mice exposed to two consecutive 0.5 mg/kg doses of carbon black exhibited lower acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation in aorta segments mounted in myographs, whereas single doses of 0.05-2.7 mg/kg produced no such effects. The phenylephrine-dependent vasocontraction response was shifted toward a lower responsiveness in the mice exposed once to a low dose for 24 hours. No effects were seen on the progression of atherosclerotic plaques in the aged <it>apoE^-/-</it>mice or on the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and the presence of 3-nitrotyrosine in the vascular tissue of either young or aged <it>apoE^-/-</it>mice. The expression of <it>MCP-1 </it>mRNA was increased in the lungs of young <it>apoE^-/-</it>mice exposed to 0.9-2.7 mg/kg carbon black for 24 hours and of aged <it>apoE^-/-</it>mice exposed to two consecutive 0.5 mg/kg doses of carbon black seven and five weeks prior to sacrifice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Exposure to nano-sized carbon black particles is associated with modest vasomotor impairment, which is associated neither with nitrosative stress nor with any obvious increases in the expression of cell adhesion proteins on endothelial cells or in plaque progression. Evidence of pulmonary inflammation was observed, but only in animals exposed to higher doses.</p

Oxidative Damage to DNA and Lipids as Biomarkers of Exposure to Air Pollution

Ba c k g r o u n d: Air pollution is thought to exert health effects through oxidative stress, which causes damage to DNA and lipids. Obj e c t i v e: We determined whether levels of oxidatively damaged DNA and lipid peroxidation products in cells or bodily fluids from humans are useful biomarkers of biologically effective dose in studies of the health effects of exposure to particulate matter (PM) from combustion processes. Data s o u r c e s: We identified publications that reported estimated associations between environmental exposure to PM and oxidative damage to DNA and lipids in PubMed and EMBASE. We also identified publications from reference lists and articles cited in the Web of Science. Data extraction: For each study, we obtained information on the estimated effect size to calculate the standardized mean difference (unitless) and determined the potential for errors in exposure assessment and analysis of each of the biomarkers, for total and stratified formal meta-analyses. Data synthesis: In the meta-analysis, the standardized mean differences (95 % confidence interval) between exposed and unexposed subjects for oxidized DNA and lipids were 0.53 (0.29–0.76) and 0.73 (0.18–1.28) in blood and 0.52 (0.22–0.82) and 0.49 (0.01–0.97) in urine, respectively. The standardized mean difference for oxidized lipids was 0.64 (0.07–1.21) in the airways. Restricting analyses to studies unlikely to have substantial biomarker or exposure measurement error, studies likely to have biomarker and/or exposure error, or studies likely to have both sources of error resulted in standardized mean differences of 0.55 (0.19–0.90), 0.66 (0.37–0.95), and 0.65 (0.34–0.96), respectively. Co n c l u s i o n s: Exposure to combustion particles is consistenly associated with oxidatively damaged DNA and lipids in humans, suggesting that it is possible to use these measurements as biomarkers of biologically effective dose. Key w o r d s: biomarker, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation products, oxidative stress, particulate matter. Environ Health Perspect 118:1126–1136 (2010). doi:10.1289/ehp.0901725 [Onlin

Международная трудовая миграция и нелегальная миграция в России

Огляд монографії: Метелев С.Е. Международная трудовая миграция и нелегальная миграция в России. Монография. – М.: Юнити. – 2006. – 175 с