121 research outputs found
'I'm confused about what my problems actually are' : managing King-Kopetzky syndrome
No full textWhy do some people complain of hearing difficulties when their hearing esholds are normal? How should Audiology professionals respond to their presentation? This problem will be considered in the light of the literature from audiology, psychology, and medical sociology disciplines. The different evidence for and implications of bio-medical and bio psychosocial explanations for such experiences are discussed. In particular the role of help seeking is considered as a coping mechanism and as a key part of the diagnostic case definition applied to this population of audioiogy patients. Two original studies will be presented which consider this phenomenon from different viewpoints. The first explored the lived experience of the patients.Two original studies will be presented which consider this phenomenon from different viewpoints. The first explored the lived experience of the patient who is coping with hearing difficulties and investigated how seeking help forms part of the process of coping.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Pathos and patter in real estate parlance
No full textThis paper presents the first systematic analysis of estate agent language and employs Aristotle’s ponderings on the art of persuasion as a means of classifying the peculiar parlance of property peddlers. “Des. Res.”, “rarely available”, “viewing essential” – these are all part of the peculiar parlance of housing advertisements. The question is whether the selling agent’s penchant for rhetoric is uniform across a single urban system or whether there are variations, even within a relatively limited geographical area. We are also interested in how the use of superlatives varies over the market cycle. For example, are estate agents more inclined to use hyperbole when the market is buoyant or when it is flat? This paper attempts to answer these questions by applying textual analysis to a unique dataset of 49,926 records of real estate transactions in the West of Scotland over the period 1999 to 2006. Our analysis has implications for our understanding of the agency behaviour of housing market professionals and endeavours to open up a new avenue of research into the market-impact of rhetoric in the language of selling
Multi-scale Inequality and Segregation: Theory and Estimation
No full textThis chapter explores multi-scale estimation methods as an important future direction for segregation research in China. We explain how these recently developed methods help address many longstanding problems in traditional index-based segregation research and open up new avenues of research on Chinese cities. We explain the conceptual framework underpinning multilevel analysis in the form of a series of propositions that capture the theoretical basis and outline why a multilevel approach to segregation is advantageous. We then illustrate how this approach can be applied to China using census data on Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei Province. We use the model to consider segregation of different ethnic groups and of migrants versus non-migrants. We conclude with a discussion of our findings and our thoughts on future directions for research and the implications for policy.Urban Studie
Cannabinoids for the control of experimental multiple sclerosis
No full textPhDThere have been numerous studies reporting that cannabinoids, both exogenous
and endogenous, have a potential beneficial function during incidences of
neurological damage. Using gene knockout mice and cannabinoid-selective agents,
this study demonstrates the diverse actions of cannabinoids with a particular focus
on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple
sclerosis. The results presented here report on the action of stimulators of
cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system (CNS) on; immune function, as a
mechanism of suppressing autoimmune attack of the central nervous system, as
agents to suppress neurodegenerative events leading to disease progression and as
agents that can control signs of disease that occur as the consequences of
autoimmune neurodegeneration such as spasticity. Tetrahydrocannabinol the
psychoactive component in cannabis and the CB1 cannabinoid receptor appears to
be central to many of the therapeutic actions of cannabis but also to the side-effect
potential of cannabinoid drugs. This study reports on methods to avoid
psychoactive side-effects of conventional brain-penetrant CB1 receptor agonists
whilst exploiting the therapeutic potential of the cannabinoid system in order to
control spasticity. This was achieved by targeting mechanisms of endocannabinoid
degradation, particularly using fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors. Furthermore,
this study also reports the development of novel cannabinoid compounds that are
excluded from the brain and inhibit spasticity and also demonstrates the
mechanism of exclusion of CNS-excluded cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonists. This
study provides further evidence for the efficacy of cannabinoid compounds during
an ongoing CNS disease and also their efficacy for treating the consequences of
CNS autoimmune disease, which hopefully, will give additional impetus for further
clinical investigations of cannabinoid agents in not only multiple sclerosis but also
other neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS
The Prevalence of Long-Term Otitis Media Related Hearing Loss in Children and Its Impact on Developmental Outcomes
No full textOtitis media (OM) is a common cause of temporary hearing loss (HL) in childhood. However, for some children it may result in long-term HL lasting more than 3 months. Epidemiological studies of HL in childhood generally focus on permanent hearing impairment and not that due to OM. Therefore, the prevalence of long-term OM related HL is unknown as well as the potential impact that it may have on children’s development. This research aims to 1) systematically review existing literature on the impact of long-term OM related HL on cognition and academic ability; 2) determine the prevalence of long-term OM related HL in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and 3) study the impact on cognitive, educational and mental health outcomes. The systematic review revealed weak evidence of long-term OM related HL having a negative impact on IQ and academic ability. In the ALSPAC study the prevalence of long-term OM related HL was 2.69% over the ages 7-15 years. This group had poorer IQ scores at age 15 than children without HL (verbal IQ: -4.72; performance IQ: -1.48). No associations were found with academic achievement at 15-16 years or anxiety and depression at 10 and 15 years. These findings indicate that the prevalence of long-term OM related HL is approximately 20 times higher than permanent HL in childhood. Furthermore, this HL has been shown to negatively impact cognition. Additional research is required to investigate the impact of this HL further and to determine how children can be better supported by clinical and educational services. A qualitative study design for future work using ethnographic and grounded theory methods to address this is presented
Hearing, Cognition, And Social Isolation In Older Adults: A Pluralist Approach
No full textThis thesis examined the role of social isolation in older adults living with hearing loss and Dementia. A pluralist approach was used to investigate these associations at both a population and individual level. A systematic review and meta-analysis investigated whether social isolation was a mediator between hearing loss and later cognitive impairment or onset of Dementia. The review's findings supported an association between hearing loss and later cognitive impairment, but social isolation was not identified as a mediator. The results led to epidemiological analyses of hearing threshold and later cognitive score and hearing threshold and later social isolation score using the Hertfordshire Ageing Study. No statistically significant or clinically significant associations were observed in the multiple linear regression analyses, highlighting the need for more specific measures of social isolation to be used in population-level data. Substantial planning and engagement work was conducted at four care homes to adequately prepare for ethnographic work, which involved an environmental audit, interviews, and qualitative analysis using Grounded Theory. The ethnographic work aimed to explore the mechanisms that contribute to the experience of social isolation and give voice to the resident, staff, and visitor perspective. The model demonstrated internal and external barriers to communication and how this contributed to sustained social isolation within residential care settings. Residents needed to frequently engage in meaningful conversation and interactions with their peers and staff to feel connected to one another and retain social identity. Their ability to communicate and for care staff to listen through disordered language was the deciding factor in experiencing social isolation. A person's level of hearing impairment was almost irrelevant. The combined work highlights the complexities of social isolation in older adults. A pluralist approach allowed for novel insight into the mechanisms contributing to and maintaining social isolation
Limnological Investigation of Selected Kootenay Mountain Lakes
No full textThis report contains basic limnological, biological, and geomorphological information obtained by studying selected Kootenay mountain lakes. This study continues the work done in the summers of 1977 and 1978.Report completed by Selkirk students hired as part of a youth employment project
Mahaki hela: the asthma-related ideas, home interactions and diurnal cortisol patterns of 3-4 year-old New Zealand Tongan and Pālangi children with asthma
No full textFull text is available to authenticated members of The University of Auckland only.This dissertation presents two complementary studies of Tongan and Pālangi (New Zealand-European) three and four year-old children's family relationships. Both studies investigated the culturally specific nature of young children's everyday experiences and family relationships, and refined a child-focussed, cross-cultural collaborative method. Participants' ideas provided the basis for interpreting behavioural patterns derived from videotaped observations of children's interactions with adults and siblings in their New Zealand homes.
The first study compared healthy Tongan (N=5) and Pālangi (N=5) children's interactions with adults and siblings. Tongan children's interactional patterns with adults and siblings were similar. Pālangi child-adult exchanges involved more behaviours than child-sibling interactions. Direct comparisons of Tongan and Pālangi child-adult interactions indicated that Pālangi exchanges were more verbal and children were more successful at eliciting ongoing interactions than Tongan children were, reflecting adult caregivers' expectations of appropriate behaviour. Pālangi children had more opportunities to develop interactional patterns that are valued by the dominant cultural group and are rewarded in New Zealand schools.
The second study of children with asthma combined ethnographic, ethological and biological approaches to determine the asthma-related ideas, and to compare behavioural and salivary cortisol patterns of Tongan (N=5) and Pālangi (N=5) children on asthma and remission days. Children contributed to refining methods of data collection and interpreting their relationships. Children disclosed early asthma symptoms that were not always apparent to their caregivers. Tongan and Pālangi child-adult interactions differed irrespective of asthma phase, following a similar pattern to the first study. Pālangi child-adult interactions were more frequent and more verbal compared to Tongan child-adult exchanges. Children co-operated with adults less often on asthma versus remission days, with Tongan children reducing co-operative behaviours more than Pālangi children did. Child-sibling interactions were generally similar for Tongan and Pālangi children, irrespective of asthma phase. During asthma phases, child-sibling interactions tended to be shorter and involve fewer overall behaviours than during remission. Children tended to direct fewer co-operative behaviours to siblings. When children had asthma, siblings made fewer demands of children, tended to be less aggressive and to initiate fewer interactions compared to remission. The cortisol patterns of Tongan and Pālangi children and their asthma-free siblings changed in different ways during asthma phases, with Tongan children showing lower cortisol values on awakening compared to remission. These preliminary findings suggest that young children and family members adapted to asthma exacerbations differently; well siblings made more behavioural adjustments than either adults or children with asthma and Tongan but not Pālangi children had dampened cortisol profiles. Tongan children's reduced co-operation with adults during asthma phases supports the Tongan focus on relational components of health. Specifically, definitions of health incorporate an ability to meet social obligations, which include co-operative behaviours that demonstrate recognition of, and response to, the needs of others.
Key words: cross-cultural; inter-disciplinary; child-focussed; Tongan; Pālangi; preschool; asthma; ethnography; behaviour; salivary cortisol; development
King-Kopetzky syndrome: A biopsychosocial approach to adult APD
No full textThis paper discusses the relationship between King-Kopetzky syndrome and auditory processing disorder (APD). King-Kopetzky syndrome is the term applied to adults who present for help in the presence of normal audiometric thresholds. These adults may or may not have an APD and this paper discusses the factors that influence help-seeking and what is known about audiological diagnosis and management
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