The Egyptian Cardiothoracic Surgeon (ECTS - E-Journal)
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Family interventions in psychosis: A review of the evidence and barriers to implementation.
No full textObjectiveFamily interventions for schizophrenia are recommended psychological interventions worldwide. The National Institute for Care and Clinical Excellence (UK) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists recommend family interventions as a first-line treatment and “treatment essential,” respectively, at all stages of psychosis and with all aspects of care. However, the success of the integration of these interventions into routine clinical services has been problematic and remains a major challenge.MethodsWe outline the national guidelines on family interventions for schizophrenia and review the evidence for this approach. Drawing on recent systematic reviews and through searching electronic databases for relevant articles, we review the barriers and facilitators associated with implementing family interventions into routine clinical services.ResultsNational guidelines continue to recommend psychological interventions for schizophrenia, reflecting the evidence base to support the provision of this approach across the psychosis spectrum. Reported estimates of implementation rates remain low and vary between 0% and 53%. Barriers to implementing family interventions exist at the service user, clinician, and organisational level. Factors that facilitate implementation of family interventions have been reported to a lesser extent.ConclusionsImplementation of family interventions for schizophrenia remains poor and is below recommended levels, with wide variation of implementation rates reported. This reflects inequality in the provision of family interventions for schizophrenia. Barriers at the service user, clinician, and organisational level have influenced the implementation of family interventions. A research agenda for improving consistent implementation of family interventions for schizophrenia is discussed
The effectiveness of motivational interviewing in educational settings:a review of the literature.
No full textThe current systematic literature review sought to determine the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) in educational settings. Student-focused school-based MI (SBMI) studies were assessed using qualitative and quantitative assessment frameworks and data were reported using PRISMA guidelines. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria, although just eight were classified as ‘best evidence’ and included in the final synthesis. Seven of the included studies yielded positive findings and one study was neutral. Although there are methodological weaknesses in existing literature on student-focused SBMI, there is emerging evidence of its effectiveness for improving student outcomes in relation to academic achievement, behaviour and school-based motivation. Clear pointers for future research emerge from the review
Relationship Quality in Business to Business Relationships – Reviewing the Current Literature and Proposing a New Measurement Model,
No full textSynthesis and Characterization of Composite Membranes made of Graphene and Polymers of Intrinsic Porosity
No full textAcceptability of a Positive Parenting Programme on a Mother and Baby Unit:Q-Methodology with Staff
No full textThe Baby Triple P Positive Parenting Programme, a new addition to the established Triple P programmes, is currently being considered for a trial in a Mother and Baby Unit with the aim of exploring its benefits to mothers presenting with severe mental illness. The aim of the current study was to investigate staff views of the acceptability and feasibility of a parenting programme such as the Baby Triple P Positive Parenting Programme in a Mother and Baby Unit. Q-methodology, using an 88-item Q-sort, was employed to explore the opinions of 16 staff working in a Mother and Baby Unit in the North West of England. Results obtained from the Q-sort analysis identified two distinct factors: (1) staff qualified acceptance and (2) systemic approach/systemic results. Preliminary findings indicate that staff perceived Baby Triple P to be an acceptable and feasible intervention for the Mother and Baby Unit setting and that mothers on the unit would be open and receptive to the programme. Further research is required to expand these findings and assess the potential for this type of intervention to be used more widely across a number of Mother and Baby Unit settings
Mannosylation Allows for Synergic (CD44/C-Type Lectin) Uptake of Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles in Dendritic Cells, but Only upon Correct Ligand Presentation
No full textThe selective targeting of dendritic cells (DCs) can lead to more efficacious vaccines. Here, materials have been designed for a synergic DC targeting: interacting with CD44 through the use of hyaluronic acid (HA), and with mannose-binding lectins (typical DC pattern recognition receptors) through HA mannosylation. Negatively charged, HA-displaying nanoparticles are produced via polyelectrolyte complexation of (mannosylated) HA and high- or low- molecular-weight chitosan (CS, 36 and 656 kDa). Using CS36, HA is better exposed and the particles have a higher affinity for HA receptors; this means a higher number of receptors clustered around each particle and, due to the rather limited CD44 availability, an overall lower uptake per cell. Employing Langerhans-like XS106 cells, all particles show negligible toxicity or inflammatory activation. The cellular uptake kinetics are qualitatively similar to other leukocytic models and thus considered to be CD44-dominated; the uptake increases with increasing HA mannosylation and with the use of adjuvants (LPS, mannan) for CS36/HA but not for CS656//HA particles; this indicates that the interactions with mannose-binding receptors requires a correct ligand presentation, and only in that case can they be enhanced by appropriate adjuvants. In summary, mannose-binding receptors can be used to enhance the internalization of HA-based carriers, although this positive synergy depends on the mode of ligand presentation
Sentiment Traders & IPO Initial Returns: The Indian Evidence
No full textWe use India’s unique regulatory design to test sentiment-based models of IPO initial returns. Using a sample of 362 Indian offerings from 2003-2014, we find that the traditional measure of IPO underpricing averages 23%. We decompose the traditional underpricing measure into two components: one related to voluntary underpricing by the underwriter and the other component related to the IPO’s first-day trading activity. We find minimal levels of voluntary underpricing. However, initial returns on the first day average 14% and are primarily driven by the unmet demand of non-institutional investor groups. Overall, our results support sentiment-based models of IPO initial returns
Surfactant transport onto a foam film in the presence of surface viscous stress
No full textSurfactant transport onto a foam film in the presence of surface viscosity has been simulated as a model for processes occurring during foam fractionation with reflux. A boundary condition is specified determining the velocity at the end of the film where it joins up with a Plateau border containing surfactant rich reflux material. The evolutions of surface velocity and surfactant surface concentration on the film are computed numerically using a finite difference method coupled with the material point method. Results are analysed both for low and high surface viscosities. Evolution is comparatively rapid when surface viscosity is low, but the larger the surface viscosity becomes, the slower the surface flow, and the lower the surfactant surface concentration on the film at any given time. For a large surface viscosity, the surface concentration of surfactant is maintained nearly uniform except at positions near the Plateau border where the velocity and surfactant concentration fields need to adjust to satisfy the boundary condition at the end of the film. The boundary condition imposed at the end of the film implies also that a drier foam (i.e. smaller radius of curvature of the Plateau border) leads to less surfactant transport onto the films. Moreover, the shorter the film length is, also the shorter the characteristic time for surfactant transport onto the film surface. Thinner films however give longer characteristic times for surfactant transport. © 2015
Taking sides: An integrative review of the impact of laterality and polarity on efficacy of therapeutic transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for anomia in chronic post-stroke aphasia.
No full textAnomia is a frequent and persistent symptom of poststroke aphasia, resulting from damage to areas of the brain involved in language production. Cortical neuroplasticity plays a significant role in language recovery following stroke and can be facilitated by behavioral speech and language therapy. Recent research suggests that complementing therapy with neurostimulation techniques may enhance functional gains, even amongst those with chronic aphasia.Thecurrent reviewfocuses on the use of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunct to naming therapy for individuals with chronic poststroke aphasia. Our survey of the literature indicates that combining therapy with anodal (excitatory) stimulation to the left hemisphere and/or cathodal (inhibitory) stimulation to the right hemisphere can increase both naming accuracy and speed when compared to the effects of therapy alone. However, the benefits of tDCS as a complement to therapy have not been yet systematically investigated with respect to site and polarity of stimulation. Recommendations for future research to help determine optimal protocols for combined therapy and tDCS are outlined
EXAFS study of Sr sorption to illite, goethite, chlorite and mixed sediment under hyper-alkaline conditions
No full textStrontium is an important contaminant radionuclide at many former nuclear sites. This paper investigates the effect of changing pH and ionic strength on the sorption of Sr to a range of common soil minerals. Specifically it focuses on the sorption of Sr onto illite, chlorite, goethite, and a mixed sediment. The interplay between ionic strength and pH was determined by varying the background ionic strength of the system using both NaCl (for a constant pH) and NaOH (to also vary pH). Under conditions of moderate pH, Sr sorption decreased with increasing ionic strength, due to competition between the Na and Sr atoms for the outer-sphere complexes. However, where increasing ionic strength was accompanied by increasing pH, Sr sorption remained high. This suggested that Sr was sorbed to the minerals without competition from background Na ions. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra confirmed that at highly alkaline pH (>12.5) Sr was forming inner-sphere complexes on the surfaces of all minerals. This specific adsorption of the Sr (as SrOH+) explains why it was still adsorbed to the minerals under very high ionic strength conditions and was not out-competed by Na