Being in Others: Empathy From a Psychoanalytical Perspective

Articl

A study of in situ outer hair cells from the adult mammalian cochlea

This thesis investigates three characteristics of outer hair cells (OHCs) of the adult mammalian cochlea. The first investigation compared the basolateral membrane K+ channel expression of turn 4 (T4) and turn 1 (T1) OHCs, cells that respond to low and high frequency sound respectively. The second and third studies investigated two further aspects of T4 OHCs, the equivalent concentration of endogenous Ca2+ buffer and the characteristics of the mechanoelectric transduction (MET) current. OHCs in situ were recorded from using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. For the first study, the kinetics, pharmacology and Ca2+ sensitivity of T4 and T1 OHC K+ channels were investigated. This work demonstrated that T4 OHCs express at least three types of K+ channels, termed Ikss, IkCa and lkT4. In contrast, T1 OHCs express different ion channels that exhibit faster onset kinetics, different pharmacology and an insensitivity to raised intracellular Ca2+ concentrations compared to those channels expressed in T4. These T1 channels have been termed IkT1 and Ik,n. The characteristics of these ion channels are discussed in relation to the particular sound frequency to which the OHC best responds. The equivalent concentration of endogenous Ca2+ buffer in T4 OHCs was investigated by using the time constant of current onset as a tool to compare the effects of various concentrations of BAPTA, introduced into the cell via the patch pipette, with those of the endogenous buffer, assayed using the perforated-patch technique. The concentration of endogenous Ca2+ buffer was found to be equivalent to the Ca2+ binding capacity of 2.1 mM BAPTA. This value converts to a Ca2+ binding ratio of 10,500. These results indicate that OHCs posess an enormous Ca2+ buffering capacity, have a low free [Ca2+]i and a huge pool of bound Ca2+ within their cytosol. Finally, the biophysical properties of the MET current of T4 OHCs were investigated. The few recordings obtained were variable but indicated that MET currents in situ are small (60 pA), limited in their onset kinetics only by the kinetics of the fluid-jet stimulus and run-down over a period of 20 minutes in the whole-cell recording configuration. These currents were found to be physiologically effective in activating the motile response of the OHC

Treating individuals with amputations in therapeutic massage and bodywork practice: A qualitative study

Introduction Best practices for massage therapy and bodywork (TMB) treatment of individuals with amputations are not well established. Although anecdotal observations are available, they have limited applicability for informing effective massage therapy and bodywork approaches for individuals with amputations. This study is part of a multifaceted research program seeking to establish a foundation for education and investigation of TMB for amputation related conditions/symptomology. The purpose of this study was to understand how TMB practitioners approach and treat individuals with amputations and their perceptions of outcomes. The TMB practitioner perspective is important in informing the development of a TMB practice framework for people with amputation. Methods The methodology of this study was informed by the phenomenological approach to qualitative inquiry. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted between June and September 2015, recorded and transcribed. Analysis consisted of descriptive coding and themes emerged through an iterative process. Codes and themes were discussed and verified with the research team. Participants were invited to review developed themes to indicate the extent to which results accurately encompassed their experiences as TMB practitioners. Results Twenty-five community practicing, professional TMB practitioners from 16 states consented to participate and all completed one interview. Analysis identified four themes which indicated TMB practitioners: value touch and consider it a core aspect of treatment for individuals with amputations; operate under a core belief that individuals with amputations greatly benefit from TMB; and consider relief that stems from TMB to be multidimensional, including physical, mental, and emotional aspects; and, certain components of treatment approach are unique to amputation clients. Conclusions Findings support that individuals with amputation benefit from TMB, at least from the perspective of TMB practitioners. Findings of this exploratory research identify important questions regarding approaches to treatment and potential TMB effectiveness hypotheses for amputation populations. Next steps will consider TMB approach and effects from the perspective of those with amputation(s)

Philanthropy, entrepreneurship and transnational exchange: women's campaigns for employment in Berlin and London, 1859-1900

This thesis focuses on the 'moral panic' provoked by single, 'redundant' middle-class women in the nineteenth century and extends current research by exploring the debate in Europe from both a comparative and transnational perspective. Both pitied and pilloried, unmarried women were deemed to be 'surplus' women and two institutions were established in Berlin and London to provide them with vocational training and employment: the Lette-Verein and the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women respectively. This thesis contends that a comparative study is vital in understanding their work and that hitherto undiscovered transnational lines of communication between them shaped their aims, achievements and development. A comparative perspective will reveal how not only feminists but male social reformers of the liberal bourgeoisie worked together across national boundaries in the campaign to provide middle-class women with employment. It will explore how women who took charge in both cities were not merely philanthropists, but forged their own careers as leaders and entrepreneurs. Case-studies will scrutinize and compare the businesses these institutions founded to train and employ women and analyze their varying degrees of success. This thesis will argue that the women in charge of these enterprises were compelled to negotiate a difficult boundary between commercial and welfare values to be successful. Furthermore, it will reveal that transnational networks were consolidated by men and women who exchanged information and ideas across national boundaries. They were keen to compete with their foreign contemporaries, yet found valuable support from their associates abroad. This thesis concludes that transnational cooperation between men and women in the mid-1860s formed the basis of a more formal international women's movement in the late nineteenth century

Philanthropy, entrepreneurship and transnational exchange: women's campaigns for employment in Berlin and London, 1859-1900

This thesis focuses on the 'moral panic' provoked by single, 'redundant' middle-class women in the nineteenth century and extends current research by exploring the debate in Europe from both a comparative and transnational perspective. Both pitied and pilloried, unmarried women were deemed to be 'surplus' women and two institutions were established in Berlin and London to provide them with vocational training and employment: the Lette-Verein and the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women respectively. This thesis contends that a comparative study is vital in understanding their work and that hitherto undiscovered transnational lines of communication between them shaped their aims, achievements and development. A comparative perspective will reveal how not only feminists but male social reformers of the liberal bourgeoisie worked together across national boundaries in the campaign to provide middle-class women with employment. It will explore how women who took charge in both cities were not merely philanthropists, but forged their own careers as leaders and entrepreneurs. Case-studies will scrutinize and compare the businesses these institutions founded to train and employ women and analyze their varying degrees of success. This thesis will argue that the women in charge of these enterprises were compelled to negotiate a difficult boundary between commercial and welfare values to be successful. Furthermore, it will reveal that transnational networks were consolidated by men and women who exchanged information and ideas across national boundaries. They were keen to compete with their foreign contemporaries, yet found valuable support from their associates abroad. This thesis concludes that transnational cooperation between men and women in the mid-1860s formed the basis of a more formal international women's movement in the late nineteenth century

Facial genetics: A brief overview

Historically, craniofacial genetic research has understandably focused on identifying the causes of craniofacial anomalies and it has only been within the last 10 years, that there has been a drive to detail the biological basis of normal-range facial variation. This initiative has been facilitated by the availability of low-cost hi-resolution three-dimensional systems which have the ability to capture the facial details of thousands of individuals quickly and accurately. Simultaneous advances in genotyping technology have enabled the exploration of genetic influences on facial phenotypes, both in the present day and across human history. There are several important reasons for exploring the genetics of normal-range variation in facial morphology.     - Disentangling the environmental factors and relative parental biological contributions to heritable traits can help to answer the age-old question "why we look the way that we do?"     - Understanding the etiology of craniofacial anomalies; e.g., unaffected family members of individuals with non-syndromic cleft lip/palate (nsCL/P) have been shown to differ in terms of normal-range facial variation to the general population suggesting an etiological link between facial morphology and nsCL/P.     - Many factors such as ancestry, sex, eye/hair color as well as distinctive facial features (such as, shape of the chin, cheeks, eyes, forehead, lips, and nose) can be identified or estimated using an individual's genetic data, with potential applications in healthcare and forensics.     - Improved understanding of historical selection and adaptation relating to facial phenotypes, for example, skin pigmentation and geographical latitude.     - Highlighting what is known about shared facial traits, medical conditions and genes

Organic Chemistry: A Call to Action for Diversity and Inclusion

By now, most of us in the field of organic chemistry have become aware of the recent Perspective Article by Hudlicky published on the Angewandte Chemie, International Edition website(1) and then quickly removed as a result of rapid and strong denunciation on social media and in other forums. We have had complex emotional responses to the opinions expressed in this piece regarding the effects of diversity and inclusion efforts in chemistry: anger, that such regressive views were provided a platform in one of our leading chemistry journals; surprise, that the piece made it through the peer review process; and disappointment, that these views continue to persist, despite our hope that the climate for researchers in organic chemistry had improved since we were all trainees

Organic Chemistry: A Call to Action for Diversity and Inclusion

By now, most of us in the field of organic chemistry have become aware of the recent Perspective Article by Hudlicky published on the Angewandte Chemie, International Edition website(1) and then quickly removed as a result of rapid and strong denunciation on social media and in other forums. We have had complex emotional responses to the opinions expressed in this piece regarding the effects of diversity and inclusion efforts in chemistry: anger, that such regressive views were provided a platform in one of our leading chemistry journals; surprise, that the piece made it through the peer review process; and disappointment, that these views continue to persist, despite our hope that the climate for researchers in organic chemistry had improved since we were all trainees