Birth attendant choice and satisfaction with antenatal care: the role of birth philosophy, relational style, and health self-efficacy

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of women’s birth‐related beliefs and expectations with the choice of a midwife or obstetrician birth attendant, and her satisfaction with antenatal care. Data were collected from 133 women with a low‐risk pregnancy who had consultations with their chosen birth attendant, and who lived in one of four Canadian provinces that publicly funded midwifery. A new birth philosophy scale was developed and tested, with natural and medical birth philosophies emerging as separate factors. Univariate analyses indicated that women with a midwife scored higher on natural birth philosophy, health self‐efficacy, egalitarian relational style preference, and openness than women with an obstetrician as caregiver. Multivariate analysis revealed that natural birth philosophy was the only significant factor distinguishing the choice of birth attendant. Women with a midwife scored higher on all satisfaction dimensions, and natural birth philosophy was a significant correlate of satisfaction. Findings suggest that women’s beliefs about pregnancy and childbirth are more sophisticated than a simple dichotomy of the natural versus the medical, and highlight the importance of ‘fit’ between a woman and her maternity caregiver

Eruption of ammonia-water cryomagmas on Titan 1: crystallisation and cooling during ascent

We are developing a semi-analytical model for the ascent of methane-expansion driven ammonia-water cryomagmas on Titan. The range of different crystal fractions resulting from decompression may help to explain the range of apparent rheological properties inferred for surface features

The atypical chemokine receptor Ackr2 constrains NK cell migratory activity and promotes metastasis

Chemokines have been shown to be essential players in a range of cancer contexts. In this study, we demonstrate that mice deficient in the atypical chemokine receptor Ackr2 display impaired development of metastasis in vivo in both cell line and spontaneous models. Further analysis reveals that this relates to increased expression of the chemokine receptor CCR2, specifically by KLRG1+ NK cells from the Ackr2−/− mice. This leads to increased recruitment of KLRG1+ NK cells to CCL2-expressing tumors and enhanced tumor killing. Together, these data indicate that Ackr2 limits the expression of CCR2 on NK cells and restricts their tumoricidal activity. Our data have important implications for our understanding of the roles for chemokines in the metastatic process and highlight Ackr2 and CCR2 as potentially manipulable therapeutic targets in metastasis

Single and vertically coupled type II quantum dots in a perpendicular magnetic field: exciton groundstate properties

The properties of an exciton in a type II quantum dot are studied under the influence of a perpendicular applied magnetic field. The dot is modelled by a quantum disk with radius $R$, thickness $d$ and the electron is confined in the disk, whereas the hole is located in the barrier. The exciton energy and wavefunctions are calculated using a Hartree-Fock mesh method. We distinguish two different regimes, namely $d<<2R$ (the hole is located at the radial boundary of the disk) and $d>>2R$ (the hole is located above and below the disk), for which angular momentum $(l)$ transitions are predicted with increasing magnetic field. We also considered a system of two vertically coupled dots where now an extra parameter is introduced, namely the interdot distance $d_{z}$. For each $l_{h}$ and for a sufficient large magnetic field, the ground state becomes spontaneous symmetry broken in which the electron and the hole move towards one of the dots. This transition is induced by the Coulomb interaction and leads to a magnetic field induced dipole moment. No such symmetry broken ground states are found for a single dot (and for three vertically coupled symmetric quantum disks). For a system of two vertically coupled truncated cones, which is asymmetric from the start, we still find angular momentum transitions. For a symmetric system of three vertically coupled quantum disks, the system resembles for small $d_{z}$ the pillar-like regime of a single dot, where the hole tends to stay at the radial boundary, which induces angular momentum transitions with increasing magnetic field. For larger $d_{z}$ the hole can sit between the disks and the $l_{h}=0$ state remains the groundstate for the whole $B$-region.Comment: 11 pages, 16 figure

Digital Design Considerations for Volunteer Recruitment: Making the Implicit Promises of Volunteering More Explicit

Non-profit organisations may find it difficult to demonstrate to potential volunteers what is required in their voluntary role-resulting in a mismatch between expectations and reality for volunteers. This mismatch could be perceived as a psychological contract breach. We interviewed 18 volunteers and 7 coordinators about their experiences and expectations in order to understand how the experience of volunteers can better be captured and communicated. Further, we wished to consider how future digital platforms might capture important elements of the volunteer experience to better support recruitment, retention and recognition. We present our findings and discuss digital platform implications around the four implicit 'promises' of volunteering: the social promise, the opportunity promise, the value promise and the organisational citizenship promise. We add to literature exploring the voluntary sector by assessing the feasibility of digital interventions to support various aspects of volunteer and coordinator roles

Physical Fighting among School-Attending Adolescents in Pakistan: Associated Factors and Contextual Influences

Background: Adolescent physical fighting is a problem of public health importance, with varied consequences in the form of school absenteeism, injury, and, in some cases, death. Although research on risk and protective factors exists, most has been conducted in high-income countries. Methods: The 2009 Pakistan Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data were used. Logistic regression models were used to determine the associations. Five independent variables were investigated at the individual level (anxiety, suicide planning, truancy, physical activity, and bullying victimization) and four independent variables at the social level (presence of supportive parental figures, presence of helpful peers, extent of social network, and food insecurity). Results: Among adolescents in this study (N = 5177), 20% reported being involved in two or more physical fights, most of whom were males (79.9%). The factors associated with physical fighting were: being male (OR = 2.78); bullying victimization (OR = 3.14); truancy (OR = 1.63), loneliness (OR = 1.44); and suicidality, as evidenced by having a suicide plan (OR = 1.75). Having few close friends (0–2) as opposed to more (>3) was found to be protective against engaging in physical fighting. Conclusion: Risk factors for physical fighting among adolescents in South Asia seem to corroborate with previously-identified risk factors using samples in high-income countries, while protective factors seemed to differ. More research needs to be conducted to understand why certain factors do not have the same protective effect among South Asian adolescents. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine demographic and contextual factors associated with physical fighting among a nationally representative sample in a rapidly developing South Asian context.</p

The incidence of all-cause, cardiovascular and respiratory disease admission among 20,252 users of lisinopril vs. perindopril: a cohort study

Background: Major international guidelines do not offer explicit recommendations on any specific angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) agent over another within the same drug group. This study compared the effectiveness of lisinopril vs. perindopril in reducing the incidence of hospital admission due to all-cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. Methods: Adult patients who received new prescriptions of lisinopril or perindopril from 2001 to 2005 in all public hospitals and clinics in Hong Kong were included, and followed up for ≥2 years. The incidence of admissions due to all-cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease were evaluated, respectively, by using Cox proportional hazard regression models. The regression models were constructed with propensity score matching to minimize indication biases. Results: A total of 20,252 eligible patients with an average age of 64.5 years (standard deviation 15.0) were included. The admission rate at 24 months within the date of index prescription due to any cause, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease among lisinopril vs. perindopril users was 24.8% vs. 24.8%, 13.7% vs. 14.0% and 6.9% vs. 6.3%, respectively. Lisinopril users were significantly more likely to be admitted due to respiratory diseases (adjusted hazard ratios [AHR] = 1.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.43, p = 0.002 at 12 months; AHR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.31, p = 0.009 at 24 months) and all causes (AHR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.19, p &lt; 0.001 at 24 months) than perindopril users. Conclusions: These findings support intra-class differences in the effectiveness of ACEIs, which could be considered by clinical guidelines when the preferred first-line antihypertensive drugs are recommended

Plasma scale length effects on protons generated in ultra-intense laser–plasmas

The energy spectra of protons generated by ultra-intense (1020 W cm−2) laser interactions with a preformed plasma of scale length measured by shadowgraphy are presented. The effects of the preformed plasma on the proton beam temperature and the number of protons are evaluated. Two-dimensional EPOCH particle-in-cell code simulations of the proton spectra are found to be in agreement with measurements over a range of experimental parameter

On the dual structure of the auditory brainstem response in dogs

Objective: To use the over-complete discrete wavelet transform (OCDWT) to further examine the dual structure of auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the dog. Methods: ABR waveforms recorded from 20 adult dogs at supra-threshold (90 and 70 dBnHL) and threshold (0-15 dBSL) levels were decomposed using a six level OCDWT and reconstructed at individual scales (frequency ranges) A6 (0-391 Hz), D6 (391-781 Hz), and D5 (781-1563 Hz). Results: At supra-threshold stimulus levels, the A6 scale (0-391 Hz) showed a large amplitude waveform with its prominent wave corresponding in latency with ABR waves II/III; the D6 scale (391-781 Hz) showed a small amplitude waveform with its first four waves corresponding in latency to ABR waves I, II/III, V, and VI; and the D5 scale (781-1563 Hz) showed a large amplitude, multiple peaked waveform with its first six waves corresponding in latency to ABR waves I, II, III, IV, V, and VI. At threshold stimulus levels (0-15 dBSL), the A6 scale (0-391 Hz) continued to show a relatively large amplitude waveform, but both the D6 and D5 scales (391781 and 781-1563 Hz, respectively) now showed relatively small amplitude waveforms. Conclusions: A dual structure exists within the ABR of the dog, but its relative structure changes with stimulus level. Significance: The ABR in the dog differs from that in the human both in the relative contributions made by its different frequency components, and the way these components change with stimulus level. (c) 2006 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved