Fluid flow analysis by a modified, white light, Lau interferometer

This paper presents a sharp focussing schlieren system based upon a modified Lau interferometer. A method of reducing the depth of focus of the system is demonstrated and the development of the system to study large fields of view by theincorporation of flexible membrane mirrors is discussed

Cross-sectional analysis of psychiatry residency graduate peer-reviewed publication trends

Background: Scholarly activity through research is widely considered to be an integral component of medical training, and residency or fellowship match success. However, the rate of these scholarly practices in psychiatry residency graduates is relatively unknown. Here, we aim to (1) describe factors associated with scholarly research activities, as measured by peer-reviewed publications, among psychiatry residency graduates, and (2) determine if an association exists between publication rates before, during, or after psychiatry residency.Methods: We employed a cross-sectional study design analyzing research output by psychiatry residency graduates in relation to future publications and academic accomplishments from a random sample of 50 psychiatry residency rosters. Data were extracted for each graduate and analyzed using STATA 15.1 and Microsoft Excel. A protocol is publicly available here: https://osf.io/pwa6d/.Results: We identified 249 residency programs of which we randomly sampled 50. Among the 50 programs, 7 were included, totaling 122 graduates from psychiatry residencies to be analyzed. Of the 122 graduated residents, 57% (69) produced no publications. Of the graduates who pursued a fellowship, 25.4% (31/67) entered into Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Of the 53 published graduates, most of their publications were received before residency, making up 68 of the 183 publications (37.2%). Compared to before residency, the total number of publications during residency reduced by 29.4% (20/68).Conclusion: While a majority of psychiatry graduate's publications were pre-residency, many publications occurred post- residency and the average number of publications was lowest during residency training

The influence of 'significant others' on persistent back pain and work participation: a qualitative exploration of illness perceptions

Background Individual illness perceptions have been highlighted as important influences on clinical outcomes for back pain. However, the illness perceptions of 'significant others' (spouse/partner/close family member) are rarely explored, particularly in relation to persistent back pain and work participation. The aim of this study was to initiate qualitative research in this area in order to further understand these wider influences on outcome. Methods Semi-structured interviews based on the chronic pain version of the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised were conducted with a convenience sample of UK disability benefit claimants, along with their significant others (n=5 dyads). Data were analysed using template analysis. Results Significant others shared, and perhaps further reinforced, claimants' unhelpful illness beliefs including fear of pain/re-injury associated with certain types of work and activity, and pessimism about the likelihood of return to work. In some cases, significant others appeared more resigned to the permanence and negative inevitable consequences of the claimant's back pain condition on work participation, and were more sceptical about the availability of suitable work and sympathy from employers. In their pursuit of authenticity, claimants were keen to stress their desire to work whilst emphasising how the severity and physical limitations of their condition prevented them from doing so. In this vein, and seemingly based on their perceptions of what makes a 'good' significant other, significant others acted as a 'witness to pain', supporting claimants' self-limiting behaviour and statements of incapacity, often responding with empathy and assistance. The beliefs and responses of significant others may also have been influenced by their own experience of chronic illness, thus participants lives were often intertwined and defined by illness. Conclusions The findings from this exploratory study reveal how others and wider social circumstances might contribute both to the propensity of persistent back pain and to its consequences. This is an area that has received little attention to date, and wider support of these findings may usefully inform the design of future intervention programmes aimed at restoring work participation

Enhanced REC collaborative review through video-conferencing

As international collaborative health research activities increase, building research ethics committees (REC) infrastructure and capacity in lowand middle-income countries for efficient and thorough review of research protocols becomes more critical, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. International investigators may face multiple challenges when conducting research in these settings, an important one being the length of time involved in securing REC review and approval. We discuss an approach to the problem that involved organisation of ‘rapid review’ REC sub-committees who met via video-conference for collaborative review of research protocols

Cytological and transcript analyses reveal fat and lazy persister-like bacilli in tuberculous sputum

As nonreplicating tubercle bacilli are tolerant to the cidal action of antibiotics and resistant to multiple stresses, identification of this persister-like population of tubercle bacilli in sputum presents exciting and tractable new opportunities to investigate both responses to chemotherapy and the transmission of tuberculosis