A mixed methods case study examination of the role of the therapeutic alliance in EMDR within primary care

The therapeutic relationship within psychotherapy is well recognised as a pertinent component of successful treatments. In particular, the alliance component of the therapeutic relationship has demonstrated a moderate and robust correlation to positive outcomes. The alliance is considered the change mechanism within the more relationally focused therapies (e.g., psychodynamic). In contrast, therapies that focus on specific techniques related to underlying theory regarding the development and amelioration of mental health difficulties, prioritise the protocols as the change mechanism. Mental health services can be seen to have moved towards offering more time-limited, protocol driven therapies (e.g., CBT) to widen access to therapy and to meet financial incentives. EMDR is a relatively new psychotherapy which has amassed evidence of efficacy since its development by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s and is now recommended within the NICE guidelines. EMDR is predominantly a protocol driven therapy based on its underlying theory which suggests that mental health difficulties are a result of dysfunctionally stored memories. Currently, little is known about the role of therapeutic relationship within EMDR and whether additional focus on relational aspects within the therapy could enhance outcomes. A single-case design with two therapist-client dyads was used to explore the therapeutic alliance within two EMDR therapy cases in a primary care setting. The study had three aims; to investigate the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and outcome; to investigate the fluctuations of the alliance throughout EMDR; and to explore how the alliance is experienced by the client and therapist during EMDR treatment. The principal findings, presented via visual analysis, display a strong alliance and positive outcomes in the two EMDR cases, suggesting the presence of the alliancewithin a predominantly protocolised therapy. This is further supported by the qualitative data, in which the alliance was a highly valued aspect by therapist and clients in both cases. Whilst this study is limited by generalisability given the small sample size and correlational design, it draws researchers’ and clinicians’ attention to the paucity of information guiding the practice of EMDR in terms of the relational imperative

Understanding the role of fathers in children's physical activity: A qualitative study

Background: Parents are influential in supporting children's physical activity, but relatively little is known about the role of fathers in children's physical activity. Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 24) were conducted with low-active and active fathers of children 3-11 years old. Deductive thematic analysis was used to identify fathers' physical activity practices and understand how fathers interact with their children around physical activity. Results: All fathers demonstrated coparticipation in physical activity with their children. Other physical activity practices commonly used by fathers included as follows: facilitation of active opportunities, modeling, involvement through coaching or teaching, and encouragement. In addition, fathers viewed physical activity as an opportunity to spend time with their children to bond and develop shared interests. Finally, fathers perceived their role in children's physical activity to be different compared with mothers. Regarding father activity level, active fathers discussed modeling more frequently and tended to engage in a variety of different activities compared with low-active fathers. Conclusions: Fathers play an important role in their children's physical activity, suggesting that physical activity may be one context in which to prompt paternal involvement, foster father-child relationships, and strengthen paternal parenting

Towards the first linkage map of the Didymella rabiei genome.

A genetic map was developed for the ascomycete Didymella rabiei (Kovachevski) v. Arx (anamorph: Ascochyta rabiei Pass. Labr.), the causal agent of Ascochyta blight in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The map was generated with 77 F1 progeny derived from crossing an isolate from the U.S.A. and an isolate from Syria. A total of 232 DAF (DNA AmplificationFingerprinting) primers and 37 STMS (Sequence-Tagged Microsatellite Site) primer pairs were tested for polymorphism between the parental isolates; 50 markers were mapped, 36 DAFs and 14 STMSs. These markers cover 261.4cM in ten linkage groups. Nineteen markers remained unlinked. Significant deviation from the expected 1:1 segregation ratios was observed for only two markers (Prob. of x2 <0.05). The implications of our results on ploidy level of the asexual spores are discussed

Homo naledi, a new species of the genus Homo from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa.

Homo naledi is a previously-unknown species of extinct hominin discovered within the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. This species is characterized by body mass and stature similar to small-bodied human populations but a small endocranial volume similar to australopiths. Cranial morphology of H. naledi is unique, but most similar to early Homo species including Homo erectus, Homo habilis or Homo rudolfensis. While primitive, the dentition is generally small and simple in occlusal morphology. H. naledi has humanlike manipulatory adaptations of the hand and wrist. It also exhibits a humanlike foot and lower limb. These humanlike aspects are contrasted in the postcrania with a more primitive or australopith-like trunk, shoulder, pelvis and proximal femur. Representing at least 15 individuals with most skeletal elements repeated multiple times, this is the largest assemblage of a single species of hominins yet discovered in Africa

New fossil remains of Homo naledi from the Lesedi Chamber, South Africa

The Rising Star cave system has produced abundant fossil hominin remains within the Dinaledi Chamber, representing a minimum of 15 individuals attributed to Homo naledi. Further exploration led to the discovery of hominin material, now comprising 131 hominin specimens, within a second chamber, the Lesedi Chamber. The Lesedi Chamber is far separated from the Dinaledi Chamber within the Rising Star cave system, and represents a second depositional context for hominin remains. In each of three collection areas within the Lesedi Chamber, diagnostic skeletal material allows a clear attribution to H. naledi. Both adult and immature material is present. The hominin remains represent at least three individuals based upon duplication of elements, but more individuals are likely present based upon the spatial context. The most significant specimen is the near-complete cranium of a large individual, designated LES1, with an endocranial volume of approximately 610 ml and associated postcranial remains. The Lesedi Chamber skeletal sample extends our knowledge of the morphology and variation of H. naledi, and evidence of H. naledi from both recovery localities shows a consistent pattern of differentiation from other hominin species.SP201

Search for strong gravity in multijet final states produced in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV using the ATLAS detector at the LHC

A search is conducted for new physics in multijet final states using 3.6 inverse femtobarns of data from proton-proton collisions at √s = 13TeV taken at the CERN Large Hadron Collider with the ATLAS detector. Events are selected containing at least three jets with scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT) greater than 1TeV. No excess is seen at large HT and limits are presented on new physics: models which produce final states containing at least three jets and having cross sections larger than 1.6 fb with HT > 5.8 TeV are excluded. Limits are also given in terms of new physics models of strong gravity that hypothesize additional space-time dimensions