The impact of meaningful activity : an investigation of the personal experiences of users of a mental health activity centre : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Activity centres are one way that those experiencing a severe and enduring mental illness can spend their time. Whilst there has been some research into meaningful activity internationally, within the New Zealand context there has been relatively little, particularly with this population group. This qualitative study took an Interpretative Phenomenological approach and sought to investigate participant’s experiences of one such activity centre. A sample of five participants who used the centre as part of their weekly schedule provided information via semi-structured interviews. From this data a set of five themes emerged; Belonging, Self-efficacy, Identity, Empowerment and Support, these being the key overall factors defining their time with the service. The participants illustrated their experiences with examples that personalised the journey of each. These examples became the sub-ordinate themes of the research and detailed the particular facets of the service and experiences that promoted their engagement and recovery. These included: Socialisation and relationships, Resources and outcomes of classes, Independence, Staff, Enjoyment and fun, Non-judgemental staff/ peers/environment, Flexibility & choice, A sense of a journey, Skill building, Personal growth, and Responsibility. These subthemes interacted with a high level of complexity with the themes and across the participants. This highlighted that each participant had a uniquely individual experience at the service. These individualised experiences support research which has been conducted around the concept of recovery in mental health where recovery emerges as an individual experience and journey. Overall experiences of the service were positive and participants reported that the service had been a positive factor in their recent lives and, for some, in the long term. This study was also found to support previous research which found that activity centres have the potential to improve life quality for vulnerable populations

Rehabilitation in chronic respiratory diseases: In-hospital and post-exacerbation pulmonary rehabilitation: Peri-exacerbation pulmonary rehabilitation

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that require hospitalization are important events for patients. Functional impairment and skeletal muscle dysfunction can increase the risk of hospitalization and readmission, independent of lung function. In addition, once a patient is admitted, multiple factors can lead to worsening outcome including immobility, systemic inflammation and nutritional depletion. These non‐pulmonary factors are potentially amenable to exercise therapy, as part of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Peri‐exacerbation PR has an important role in the management of exacerbations of COPD. In this review, we explore how functional limitation and skeletal muscle dysfunction affect patients having a severe exacerbation of COPD, the systemic impact of hospitalization on patients including potential aetiologies and the role of PR around the time of an exacerbation. This includes rehabilitation during the inpatient phase, post‐exacerbation rehabilitation and rehabilitation bridging hospital discharge. We also describe potential future developments in peri‐exacerbation PR

Airborne Particles in Museums

Presents one in a series of research activities aimed at a better understanding of the origin and fate of air pollution within the built environment

Endovascular management of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm hemorrhage complicating pancreaticoduodenectomy

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a morbid complication of pancreaticoduodenectomy. Determining its etiology is often a daunting challenge in that both common and unusual mechanisms may be operative. Visceral artery pseudoaneurysms, although rare, must be considered in that minimally invasive means are available for effective therapy. Our recent experience with two cases highlights the importance for both general and vascular surgeons to be aware of the diagnostic and therapeutic role for early angiography and deployment of endovascular techniques to achieve a successful outcome

Designed for Disease: The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes

Examines the link between a community's retail food environment -- the ratio of fast-food outlets and convenience stores to grocery stores and produce vendors, with income level as a factor -- and the prevalence of adult obesity and diabetes

The lived experiences of international students who's family remains at home

The significant increase of international students, who leave their family at home,to study abroad, especially in the discipline of nursing, has implications for educational practice. This study’s aim was to explore adult international students’ experiences of leaving spouse and children – for further education overseas. A descriptive phenomenological approach to inquiry using Colaizzi’s (1978)analysis framework revealed four themes : living with emotional turmoil, living in a world of negativity, living with an expectation to cope and driven by personal ambition. The findings identified a hidden world of emotional trauma, psychological stress, and negativity, specifically related to relinquishing their role in the family. The authors conclude that an ‘open door policy’ that provides individual counselling and timely support for academic and social purposes is necessary

The WHO-DAS II: Psychometric Properties in the Measurement of Functional Health Status in Adults With Acquired Hearing Loss

The World Health Organization\u27s (WHO) Disability Assessment Scale II (WHO-DAS II) is a generic health-status instrument firmly grounded in the WHO\u27s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF). As such, it assesses functioning for six domains: communication, mobility, self-care, interpersonal, life activities, and participation. Domain scores aggregate to a total score. Because the WHO-DAS II contains questions relevant to hearing and communication, it has good face validity for use as an outcome measure for audiologic intervention. The purpose of the present study was to determine the psychometric properties of the WHO-DAS II on a sample of individuals with adult-onset hearing loss, including convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest stability. Convergent validity was established by examining correlations between the WHO-DAS II (domain and total scores) and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) and the Hearing Aid Handicap for the Elderly (HHIE), two disease-specific measures, as well as with the Short Form-36 for veterans (SF-36V), a second generic measure. Data on all four measures were collected from 380 older individuals with adult-onset hearing loss who were not hearing aid users. The results of the convergent validity analysis revealed that the WHO-DAS II communication domain score was moderately and significantly correlated with scores on the APHAB and the HHIE. WHO-DAS II interpersonal and participation domain scores and the total scores were also moderately and significantly correlated with HHIE scores. These findings support the validity of using the WHO-DAS II for assessing activity limitations and participation restrictions of adult-onset hearing loss. Several WHO-DAS II domain scores and the total score were also significantly and moderately-markedly correlated with scores from the SF-36V. These findings support the validity of the WHO-DAS II as a generic health-status instrument. Internal consistency reliability for all the domain scores was adequate for all but the interpersonal domain. Test-retest stability for all the domain scores was adequate. Critical difference values were calculated for use in clinical application of the WHO-DAS II. From these findings, we concluded that the WHO-DAS II communication, participation, and total scores can be used to examine the effects of adult-onset hearing loss on functional health status. Further work examining the utility of the WHO-DAS II as an outcome measure for hearing aid intervention is warranted

Meristic and morphometric characters of <em>Leptopelis natalensis</em> tadpoles (Amphibia: Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Entumeni Forest reveal variation and inconsistencies with previous descriptions

The tadpole of Leptopelis natalensis is described based on a series of 32 specimens from Entumeni Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Previous descriptions are brief, lack morphometric data, or are based on specimens of imprecise origin. The tadpole resembles other Leptopelis tadpoles and is generally in agreement with existing accounts, although some differences exist. Some of these differences seem to fall within the range of natural variation. Others, such as the presence of a fifth anterior row of keratodonts, might be indicative of variation at the population level and should be considered in future taxonomic revisions. Leptopelis natalensis tadpoles seem to be most readily distinguished by their more narrowly keratinized beaks from the geographically overlapping or adjacent L. mossambicus and L. xenodactylus

University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries Master Plan

Amherst Libraries, which is on the edge of significant change moving into a new era serving scholars, researchers and learners in the 21st Century. Over the last decade the Library has been a leader in many initiatives: increasing development of digital resources; collaborating with the Five Colleges Consortium, which was one of the first in the country to develop a shared book depository; developing a highly successful Learning Commons that engages partners in providing a broad range, of services and settings for learners; providing services through partners welcomed into library facilities, such the peer learning activities of the Learning Resources Center; and converting space to nontraditional library uses that are compatible with the mission of the library with facilities like the Teaching Commons. The visioning and conceptual development that was done for this study sought to build on the success of these initiatives, improve library space, and seek new types of blended facilities with partners that could enhance what the library offers the campus community. The Libraries master plan is aligned with the University’s strategic plan to become a major research institution through growth of new areas for research and academic development, and to grow its student body. Whereas the previous decade focused a great deal on supporting undergraduate learning and research, for the next decade the Library plans to improve support for scholars, researchers and graduate students, combined with expanded services for undergraduates. The Du Bois tower is in need of major renovation, upgrading to enable new types of activities, as well as to support traditional study and scholarship more effectively. Many options were studied for conversion of spaces to new activities or functions compatible with the library’s mission, and these are outlined in the sections that follow. Du Bois tower was the primary challenge: how to find ways to exploit the building’s potential yet mitigate its challenges

Meristic and morphometric characters of Leptopelis natalensis tadpoles (Amphibia: Anura: Arthroleptidae) from Entumeni Forest reveal variation and inconsistencies with previous descriptions

The tadpole of Leptopelis natalensis is described based on a series of 32 specimens from Entumeni Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Previous descriptions are brief, lack morphometric data, or are based on specimens of imprecise origin. The tadpole resembles other Leptopelis tadpoles and is generally in agreement with existing accounts, although some differences exist. Some of these differences seem to fall within the range of natural variation. Others, such as the presence of a fifth anterior row of keratodonts, might be indicative of variation at the population level and should be considered in future taxonomic revisions. Leptopelis natalensis tadpoles seem to be most readily distinguished by their more narrowly keratinized beaks from the geographically overlapping or adjacent L. mossambicus and L. xenodactylus