A study of the professional values and perceptions of social workers, by Coetta Lou Berry, Emma McDonald Dawson, Moragh Lesslie Shepherd and Sally Hall Wood

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Violence, gender and the price of beer in England and Wales

This paper examines the influence of the real price of beer on violence-related injuries split by gender across the economic regions in England and Wales. It was concluded that alcohol prices and injury sustained in violence is causally related in both males and females. Injury of females is causally related to poverty but injury of males. However, nationwide sports events were associated only with male assault injury. Violence-related harm was significantly and independently linked to other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Our results suggest that the real price of alcohol (using beer as an example) has a part to play in controlling the consumption of alcohol and the incidence of violent injury

Investigation of the effect of electrode geometry on spark ignition

High-speed schlieren visualization and numerical simulations are used to study the fluid mechanics following a spark discharge and the effect on the ignition process in a hydrogen–air mixture. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model of spark discharge in air and spark ignition was developed using the non-reactive and reactive Navier–Stokes equations including mass and heat diffusion. The numerical method employs structured adaptive mesh refinement software to produce highly-resolved simulations, which is critical for accurate resolution of all the physical scales of the complex fluid mechanics and chemistry. The simulations were performed with three different electrode geometries to investigate the effect of the geometry on the fluid mechanics of the evolving spark kernel and on flame formation. The computational results were compared with high-speed schlieren visualization of spark and ignition kernels. It was shown that the spark channel emits a blast wave that is spherical near the electrode surfaces and cylindrical near the center of the spark gap, and thus is highly influenced by the electrode geometry. The ensuing competition between spherical and cylindrical expansion in the spark gap and the boundary layer on the electrode surface both generate vorticity, resulting in the toroidal shape of the hot gas kernel and enhanced mixing. The temperature and rate of cooling of the hot kernel and mixing region are significantly effected by the electrode geometry and will have a critical impact on ignition. In the flanged electrode configuration the viscous effects generate a multidimensional flow field and lead to a curved flame front, a result not seen in previous work. Also, the high level of confinement by the flanges results in higher gas temperatures, suggesting that a lower ignition energy would be required. The results of this work provide new insights on the roles of the various physical phenomena in spark kernel formation and ignition, in particular the important effects of viscosity, pressure gradients, electrode geometry, and hot gas confinement

The effectiveness of SPARX, a computerised self help intervention for adolescents seeking help for depression: randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

Objective To evaluate whether a new computerised cognitive behavioural therapy intervention (SPARX, Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts) could reduce depressive symptoms in help seeking adolescents as much or more than treatment as usual

Enhancing an online cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for depression: Harnessing the feedback of sexual and gender minority youth to help improve SPARX

Objective SPARX is an online cognitive behavioural therapy self-help intervention for adolescent depression provided in serious game format. Since 2014, it has been freely available in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) due to funding from the NZ government. In 2020/21, feedback from sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) was used to refine and update SPARX. Method Three online focus groups and follow-up email consultations involved 12 SGMY (16 to 25 years old) in NZ. A general inductive approach was used to analyse data. Results SGMY had specific needs as well as preferences and four themes were identified: attend to our contextual realities; portrayals of sexual and gender minority people in games; envisaged ideals for serious gaming and appraisals of SPARX. SGMY feedback was used to improve SPARX for this unique population, with the updates launched in October 2021. Conclusions SGMY are underserved in terms of their mental health needs. Refining or tailoring existing interventions proffers a potential way forward in terms of addressing these needs

Violence, gender and the price of beer in England and Wales

This paper examines the influence of the real price of beer on violence-related injuries split by gender across the economic regions in England and Wales. It was concluded that alcohol prices and injury sustained in violence is causally related in both males and females. Injury of females is causally related to poverty but injury of males. However, nationwide sports events were associated only with male assault injury. Violence-related harm was significantly and independently linked to other socioeconomic and demographic factors. Our results suggest that the real price of alcohol (using beer as an example) has a part to play in controlling the consumption of alcohol and the incidence of violent injury

Juegos serios para el tratamiento o la prevención de la depresión: una revisión sistemática

Serious games (computerised interventions which utilise gaming for serious purposes) have been shown to support improved outcomes in several health conditions. We aimed to review evidence regarding serious games for depression. We undertook electronic searches of PsycInfo, EMBASE and Medline, using terms relevant to computer games and depression. We included fulltext articles published in English in peer-reviewed literature since 2000, where the intervention was designed to treat or prevent depression and which included pre-and post-intervention measurement of depression. Nine studies relating to a total of six interventions met inclusion criteria. Most studies were small and were carried out by the developers of the programs. All were tested with young people (ages between 9 and 25 years). Most reported promising results with some positive impact on depression although one universal program had mixed results. Serious gaming interventions show promise for depression, however evidence is currently very limited.Se ha demostrado que los juegos serios (intervenciones computarizadas que utilizan juegos) mejoran los resultados en diferentes problemas de salud. Pretendemos examinar las evidencias de estos juegos para la depresión. Se realizaron búsquedas electrónicas en PsycINFO, EMBASE y Medline usando términos relacionados con juegos de ordenador y depresión. Se incluyeron artículos publicados desde el año 2000, donde se diseñó la intervención para tratar o prevenir la depresión incluyendo medidas pre- y post-intervención. Nueve estudios sobre un total de seis intervenciones cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La mayoría de estos fueron pequeños y los llevaron a cabo los desarrolladores de los programas. Todos incluían población joven (9 - 25 años). La mayoría presentan resultados prometedores con un impacto positivo sobre la depresión aunque un programa universal tuvo resultados mixtos. Se concluye que las intervenciones basadas en juegos serios son prometedoras para la depresión, aunque la evidencia es todavía muy limitada

Computer-Based and Online Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of computer-based and online therapies (e-therapy) to treat children and adolescents with depression and/or anxiety, and to outline programs that are evidence based or currently being researched. Methods: We began by defining the topic and highlighting the issues at the forefront of the field. We identified computer and Internet-based interventions designed to prevent or treat depression or anxiety that were tested with children and young people <18 years of age (or inclusive of this age range together with emerging adults). We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We summarized available relevant systematic reviews. Results: There is an increasing body of evidence that supports the use of computers and the Internet in the provision of interventions for depression and anxiety in children and adolescents. A number of programs have been shown to be effective in well-designed RCTs. Replication and long-term follow-up studies are needed to confirm results. Conclusions: There are now a range of effective computerized interventions for young people with depression and anxiety. This is likely to impact positively on attempts to make psychological therapies widely available to children and young people. We expect to see increased program sophistication and a proliferation of programs in the coming years. Research efforts, when developing programs, need to align with technological advances to maximize appeal. Implementation research is needed to determine the optimal modes of delivery and effectiveness of e-therapies in clinical practice. Given the large number of unproven program on the Internet, ensuring that there is clear information for patients about evidence for individual programs is likely to present a challenge