Accessibility and applicability of currently available e-mental health programs for depression for people with poststroke aphasia: Scoping review

© Stephanie Jane Clunne, Brooke Jade Ryan, Annie Jane Hill, Caitlin Brandenburg, Ian Kneebone. Background: Depression affects approximately 60% of people with aphasia 1 year post stroke and is associated with disability, lower quality of life, and mortality. Web-delivered mental health (e-mental health) programs are effective, convenient, and cost-effective for the general population and thus are increasingly used in the management of depression. However, it is unknown if such services are applicable and communicatively accessible to people with poststroke aphasia. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify freely available e-mental health programs for depression and determine their applicability and accessibility for people with poststroke aphasia. Methods: A Web-based search was conducted to identify and review freely available e-mental health programs for depression. These programs were then evaluated in terms of their (1) general features via a general evaluation tool, (2) communicative accessibility for people with aphasia via an aphasia-specific communicative accessibility evaluation tool, and (3) empirical evidence for the general population and stroke survivors with and without aphasia. The program that met the most general evaluation criteria and aphasia-specific communicative accessibility evaluation criteria was then trialed by a small subgroup of people with poststroke aphasia. Results: A total of 8 programs were identified. Of these, 4 had published evidence in support of their efficacy for use within the general population. However, no empirical evidence was identified that specifically supported any programs’ use for stroke survivors with or without aphasia. One evidence-based program scored at least 80% (16/19 and 16/20, respectively) on both the general and aphasia-specific communicative accessibility evaluation tools and was subject to a preliminary trial by 3 people with poststroke aphasia. During this trial, participants were either unable to independently use the program or gave it low usability scores on a post-trial satisfaction survey. On this basis, further evaluation was considered unwarranted. Conclusions: Despite fulfilling majority of the general evaluation and aphasia-specific evaluation criteria, the highest rated program was still found to be unsuitable for people with poststroke aphasia. Thus, e-mental health programs require substantial redevelopment if they are likely to be useful to people with poststroke aphasia

Understanding surface structure and chemistry of single crystal lanthanum aluminate

The surface crystallography and chemistry of a LaAlO 3 single crystal, a material mainly used as a substrate to deposit technol ogically important thin films (e.g. for superconducting and magnetic devices), was analysed using surface X-ray diffraction and low energy ion scattering spectroscopy. The surfa ce was determined to be terminated by Al-O species, and was significantly different from th e idealised bulk structure. Termination reversal was not observed at higher temperature (600°C) and chamber pressure of 10 -10 Torr, but rather an increased Al-O occupancy occurred, which was accompanied by a larger outwards relaxation of Al from the bulk positions. Changing the oxygen pressure to 10 -6 Torr enriched the Al site occupancy fraction at the outermost surface from 0.245(10) to 0.325(9). In contrast the LaO, which is located at the next sub-surface atomic layer, showed no chemical enrichment and the structural relaxation was lower than for the top AlO 2 layer. Knowledge of the surface structure will aid the understanding of how and which type of interface will be formed when LaAlO 3 is used as a substrate as a function of temperature and pressure, and so lead to improved design of device structures

A novel mixed-method approach to assess children's sedentary behaviours

Purpose: Accurately measuring sedentary behavior (SB) in children is challenging by virtue of its complex nature. While self-report questionnaires are susceptible to recall errors, accelerometer data lacks contextual information. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of using accelerometry combined with the Digitising Children’s Data Collection (DCDC) for Health application (app), to capture SB comprehensively. Methods: 74 children (9–10 years old) wore ActiGraph GT9X accelerometers for 7 days. Each received a SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab4 (SM-T230) tablet, with the DCDC app installed and a specially designed sedentary behavior study downloaded. The app uses four data collection tools: 1) Questionnaire, 2) Take a photograph, 3) Draw a picture, and 4) Record my voice. Children self-reported their SB daily. Accelerometer data were analyzed using R-package GGIR. App data were downloaded and individual participant profiles created. SBs reported were grouped into categories and reported as frequencies. Results: Participants spent, on average, 629 min (i.e., 73% of their waking time) sedentary. App data revealed most of their out-of-school SB consisted of screen time (112 photos, 114 drawings, and screen time mentioned 135 times during voice recordings). Playing with toys, reading, arts and crafts, and homework were also reported across all four data capturing tools on the app. On an individual level, data from the app often explained irregular patterns in physical activity and SB observed in accelerometer data. Conclusion: This mixed methods approach to assessing SB adds context to accelerometer data, providing researchers with information needed for intervention design

Joseph L. Ryan, SJ, Collection

All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy. Joseph L. Ryan was born on December 4, 1920 in Brighton,MA, the son of John R. Ryan and Mary Ann (Connelly) Ryan. He was educated at Boston Latin School and Boston College High School, graduating in 1938. He entered into the Society of Jesus on June 30, 1938 at Shadowbrook. Both his novitiate and juniorate training were at Shadowbrook, 1938 to 1942, then he studied Philosophy at Weston College from 1942 to 1945. In 1945, he went to Baghdad College,Baghdad,Iraq, for his regency, teaching English, Mathematics and Chemistry. He left Baghdad in 1948 to begin his Theological studies at Weston College and continued until 1952. He was ordained at Weston College on June 16, 1951 by Bishop John J. McEleney, S.J. In 1952, he went to St. Robert’s Hall,Pomfret,CT for his tertianship studies and in 1953 he began a year of study in Chemistry at Boston College. On December 28, 1954, he returned to Baghdad College to teach Chemistry. In 1956, he became the dean of the new Al-Hikma University,Baghdad,Iraq, and a Professor of Theology. He remained at Al-Hikma until 1962, when he left for the St. Joseph’s Residence in Baghdadto study the Arabic language. After his year of study, he returned to Al-Hikma University as the dean until 1966 when he was made academic vice-president. When the Jesuits were expelled from Al-Hikma University in 1968, he returned to New England where he became a research fellow at the Cambridge (Mass.) Center for Social Studies, and to serve as Director of Planning for Jesuit Missions for the Province. In 1971, he returned to the Mid-East, at St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon, where he did research at the Center for the Study of the Modern Arabic World (CEMAM) until 1975. In 1976 he returned to the United States where he continued these studies at Loyola House in Boston. From 1972 to 1977, he undertook a series of lecture tours on topics related to the Middle East. He took his Final Solemn Vows on April 12, 1977. Also in 1977, he became rector for the Jesuit community at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. In 1983, he spent a year at Oxford University, England, studying religious education. He then began work with the Amman, Jordan religious education ministry and became director for the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. He remained with the program until 1990, when he took a one year sabbatical and returned to the Loyola House for private study, and later Weston, to continue his education. He then spent a year, 1991-1992, at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA. From 1992 until 1997 he worked in spiritual counseling and direction for retreats at Fairfield University. In 1997, his failing health forced him leave his position. He died on January 31, 1998 and is buried at Campion Center in Weston, MA. Fr. Ryan was member of the National Council of Americans for Middle East Understanding, the Middle East Studies Association, and President of the American Friends of th eMiddle East. He was the author of many articles and book chapters on Middle Eastern affairs and, in particular, on Palestinian-Israeli issues and problems. He testified on conditions in the Middle East, including anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, before U.S. Congressional committees, and delivered a paper on the Rights of the Palestinian People at the United Nations. Fr. Ryan’s collection consists of papers and photographs. The bulk of the papers are from the 1970s and documents Fr. Ryan’s work presenting the state of affairs in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian and Arab position to American and others. The photographs include family photos and pictures of ceremonies at Al-Hikma University

Validating the Sedentary Sphere method in children: does wrist or accelerometer brand matter?

This study aimed to validate the Sedentary Sphere posture classification method from wrist-worn accelerometers in children. Twenty-seven 9-10-year-old children wore ActiGraph GT9X (AG) and GENEActiv (GA) accelerometers on both wrists, and activPAL on the thigh while completing prescribed activities: five sedentary activities, standing with phone, walking (criterion for all 7: observation) and ten minutes free-living play (criterion: activPAL). In an independent sample, 21 children wore AG and GA accelerometers on the non-dominant wrist and activPAL for two days of free-living. Percent accuracy, pairwise 95% equivalence tests (±10% equivalence zone) and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) analyses were completed. Accuracy was similar, for prescribed activities irrespective of brand (non-dominant wrist: 77%-78%; dominant wrist: 79%). Posture estimates were equivalent between wrists within brand (±6%, ICC>0.81, lower 95% CI>0.75), between brands worn on the same wrist (±5%, ICC>0.84, lower 95% CI>0.80) and between brands worn on opposing wrists (±6%, ICC>0.78, lower 95% CI>0.72). Agreement with activPAL during free-living was 77%, but sedentary time was underestimated by 7% (GA) and 10% (AG). The Sedentary Sphere can be used to classify posture from wrist-worn AG and GA accelerometers for group-level estimates in children, but future work is needed to improve the algorithm for better individual-level results

Associations of sedentary behaviour, physical activity, blood pressure and anthropometric measures with cardiorespiratory fitness in children with cerebral palsy

Background - Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have poor cardiorespiratory fitness in comparison to their peers with typical development, which may be due to low levels of physical activity. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to increased cardiometabolic risk. Purpose - The aim of this study was to determine the association between sedentary behaviour, physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in children with CP. An objective was to determine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness, anthropometric measures and blood pressure in children with CP. Methods- This study included 55 ambulatory children with CP [mean (SD) age 11.3 (0.2) yr, range 6-17 yr; Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II]. Anthropometric measures (BMI, waist circumference and waist-height ratio) and blood pressure were taken. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured using a 10 m shuttle run test. Children were classified as low, middle and high fitness according to level achieved on the test using reference curves. Physical activity was measured by accelerometry over 7 days. In addition to total activity, time in sedentary behaviour and light, moderate, vigorous, and sustained moderate-to-vigorous activity (≥10 min bouts) were calculated. Results - Multiple regression analyses revealed that vigorous activity (β = 0.339, p<0.01), sustained moderate-to-vigorous activity (β = 0.250, p<0.05) and total activity (β = 0.238, p<0.05) were associated with level achieved on the shuttle run test after adjustment for age, sex and GMFCS level. Children with high fitness spent more time in vigorous activity than children with middle fitness (p<0.05). Shuttle run test level was negatively associated with BMI (r2 = -0.451, p<0.01), waist circumference (r2 = -0.560, p<0.001), waist-height ratio (r2 = -0.560, p<0.001) and systolic blood pressure (r2 = -0.306, p<0.05) after adjustment for age, sex and GMFCS level. Conclusions - Participation in physical activity, particularly at a vigorous intensity, is associated with high cardiorespiratory fitness in children with CP. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk