The effect of exposure to parodies of thin-ideal images on women’s body image, body shame and mood

This item is only available electronically.Social networking sites are abundant with thin-ideal beauty standards for women. As a result, some users are challenging these unrealistic ideals in creative, humorous ways. The aim of the present study was to experimentally investigate the effect of exposure to humorous, parody images on women’s body dissatisfaction, body shame and mood. Participants were 173 women aged between 18 and 61 years, who were randomly assigned to view either one of three sets of Instagram images: thin-ideal celebrity posts; humorous parody images of the celebrity post paired with the thin-ideal; or the humorous parody post alone. Results indicated that exposure to the parody images alone decreased body dissatisfaction, body shame and negative mood, relative to exposure of thin-ideal images alone. Moreover, exposure to the parody images alone resulted in less body dissatisfaction than exposure to parody images paired with the thin-ideal image. The findings were moderated by trait thin-ideal internalisation, whereby individuals with high thin-ideal internalisation experienced less body dissatisfaction after viewing parody images alone, compared to the paired parody and thinideal images. Overall, the findings contribute to existing literature by providing support for the use of humorous parody images for decreasing body dissatisfaction, body shame and negative mood in women.Thesis (M.Psych(Clinical)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 202

Towards Intelligent Interactive Theatre: Drama Management as a way of Handling Performance

In this paper, we present a new modality for intelligent interactive narratives within the theatre domain. We discuss the possibilities of using an intelligent agent that serves as a drama manager and as an actor that plays a character within the live theatre experience. We pose a set of research challenges that arise from our analysis towards the implementation of such an agent, as well as potential methodologies as a starting point to bridge the gaps between current literature and the proposed modality.Comment: International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling (ICIDS) 201

Spinal Subdural Staphylococcus Aureus Abscess: case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Only 65 cases (including our case) of spinal subdural abscesses have been reported to the literature, mostly to the lumbar spine. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common bacterial. The symptoms are not caracteristic and contrast – enhanced magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) is the imaging method of choice. The early diagnosis is crucial for the prognosis of the patient.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a patient 75 years old who had a history of diabetes and suffered acute low back pain in the region of the lumbar spine for the last 4 days before his admission to the hospital. He also experienced lower leg weakness, fever and neck stiffness. After having a brain CT scan and a lumbar puncture the patient hospitalized with the diagnosis of meningitis. Five days after his admission the diagnosis of subdural abscess secured with contrast – enhanced MRI but meanwhile the condition of the patient impaired with respiratory failure and quadriplegia and he was admitted to the ICU. A laminectomy was performed eight days after his admission into the hospital but unfortunately the patient died.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Early diagnosis and treatment are very important for the good outcome in patients with subdural abscess. Although morbidity and mortality are very high, surgical and antibiotic treatment should be established as soon as possible after the diagnosis has secured.</p

Pharmacokinetic changes and dosing modification of aminoglycosides in critically ill obese patients: A literature review

The objective of the paper is to review the literature and provide recommendations for use of aminoglycoside antibiotics in critically ill obese patients. Literature search in PubMed for all articles on the use of aminoglycosides in critically ill obese patients was conducted, and all articles related to pharmacokinetics in obesity were reviewed. Bibliographies of all searched manuscripts were also reviewed in an attempt to find additional references. Although aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics have been described in detail, data on aminoglycoside use and appropriate dose modification in critically ill obese patients are very limited. Knowledge on aminoglycoside pharmacokinetics and use in critically ill obese patients is incomplete. Pathophysiologic changes in obesity can result in sub- or supra-therapeutic aminoglycoside plasma concentrations, especially in the presence of sepsis. Rigorous clinical studies are needed to establish aminoglycoside dosing guidelines in critically ill obese patients with sepsis

Making a choice: The Melete Effect and establishing a poetics for choice-based narratives

In this dissertation, I establish a poetics for Choice-Based Narrative and situate this form as a foundational form of Interactive Narrative. A Choice-Based Narrative is a story that allows for choices to arise at designated junctures within a given experience. The story is predetermined in advance by the creative writer or author of the experience and can have many different outcomes. The spectator (viewer/audience/reader/user) then participates in the process of making a choice and the result of their choice impacts the direction of the narrative. These types of narrative exist in a diverse range of mediums across the creative and performing arts including interactive film, interactive theatre, hypertext, Interactive Fiction, video games and books. As a part of this creative practice research an original Choice-Based Narrative was written. This work, The Melete Effect, was used as a process to understand how Choice-Based Narratives are written and structured. Through a series of iterations (pre-defined writing periods) the development of the narrative shaped and pushed the direction of this practice-led research. This resulted in establishing a new body of literature and in providing a brief historical overview of the form. This research also involved several author, illustrator and editor interviews with those involved with the Choose Your Own Adventure series published by Bantam Books (1979 to 1998) which was a book series critical to the development of this form. It was through this research that several new Praxi (methodologies) for creating Choice-Based Narrative were discovered. These Praxi were designed to aid practitioners in further developing their own practice and to provide an insight into the creative writing process. They consist of the Story Choice Framework (an approach designed to assist creative writers in developing Choice-Based Narratives), the notion of Sans Medium (that narrative can exist without a medium container) and Tessellations (a new method for visual representation of Choice-Based Narratives). Finally this research established that there are four qualities that all Choice-Based Narratives share: they are episodic and epic, they use priming and misdirection, genre is used as a narrative shortcut and that they allow counterfactuals to influence characters and plot. These four qualities represent the poetics of Choice-Based Narrative and represent an original contribution to this field of research

The use of pulmonary artery catheter in sepsis patients: A literature review

This article was to review the literature regarding the use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in the management of patients with sepsis and septic shock. A PubMed search was conducted in order to identify publications evaluating the use of PAC as a tool for management and therapeutic guidance in patients with sepsis. The bibliographies of all identified publications were reviewed for additional relevant references. Much information is identified in the literature regarding the indications for pulmonary artery catheterization in the assessment and treatment of patients with sepsis. Although the PAC has been widely used for many years, there is no clear benefit with regard to outcome, and there is controversy regarding its use. It is not clear that use of the PAC contributes to reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis. The role of the PAC is becoming less clear, as newer, non-invasive techniques are developed for hemodynamic assessment of sepsis patients. Large, well-designed clinical trials are needed to better assess the role and potential benefit from use of the PAC in sepsis

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Options

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common entity in critical care. ARDS is associated with many diagnoses, including trauma and sepsis, can lead to multiple organ failure and has high mortality. The present article is a narrative review of the literature on ARDS, including ARDS pathophysiology and therapeutic options currently being evaluated or in use in clinical practice. The literature review covers relevant publications until January 2011. Recent developments in the therapeutic approach to ARDS include refinements of mechanical ventilatory support with emphasis on protective lung ventilation using low tidal volumes, increased PEEP with use of recruitment maneuvers to promote reopening of collapsed lung alveoli, prone position as rescue therapy for severe hypoxemia, and high frequency ventilation. Supportive measures in the management of ARDS include attention to fluid balance, restrictive transfusion strategies, and minimization of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents. Inhaled bronchodilators such as inhaled nitric oxide and prostaglandins confer short term improvement without proven effect on survival, but are currently used in many centers. Use of corticosteroids is also important, and appropriate timely use may reduce mortality. Finally, extra corporeal oxygenation methods are very useful as rescue therapy in patients with intractable hypoxemia, even though a survival benefit has not, to this date been demonstrated. Despite intense ongoing research on the pathophysiology and treatment of ARDS, mortality remains high. Many pharmacologic and supportive strategies have shown promising results, but data from large randomized clinical trials are needed to fully evaluate the true effectiveness of these therapies

Hypomagnesemia in critically ill sepsis patients

Magnesium (Mg), also known as “the forgotten electrolyte”, is the fourth most abundant cation overall and the second most abundant intracellular cation in the body. Mg deficiency has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many diseases. This article is a review of the literature regarding Mg abnormalities with emphasis on the implications of hypomagnesemia in critical illness and on treatment options for hypomagnesemia in critically ill patients with sepsis. Hypomagnesemia is common in critically ill patients, and there is strong, consistent clinical evidence, largely from observational studies, showing that hypomagnesemia is significantly associated with increased need for mechanical ventilation, prolonged ICU stay and increased mortality. Although the mechanism linking hypomagnesemia with poor clinical outcomes is not known, experimental data suggest mechanisms contributing to such outcomes. However, at the present time, there is no clear evidence that magnesium supplementation improves outcomes in critically ill patients with hypomagnesemia. Large, well-designed clinical trials are needed to evaluate the role of magnesium therapy for improving outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis