Statistical Analysis of Cicada Physical Characteristics by Species and Gender

A poster by Foti Savopoulos on statistical analysis research of cicada physical characteristics

Exploring the experiences of mothers after participating in a mother-child interaction intervention, within an HIV context

This research was conducted as part of the formative evaluation of a mother-child interaction intervention, which was incorporated into the Kgolo Mmogo pilot study at the Kalafong Hospital in Tshwane (South Africa). The purpose of the intervention was to encourage the development of parenting skills and to improve mother-child relationships within an HIV context over a six-month period. By promoting more effective interaction between mother and child, child resilience could be enhanced and children could learn the necessary coping skills that would help them deal with the challenges posed by HIV and other life events. The aim of the study was to generate a systemic understanding of families affected by HIV/AIDS. The study explored (1) the effect of HIV on family interaction and (2) the effect of the mother-child interaction intervention on family interaction from the perspective of HIV-infected mothers. The theoretical framework chosen for the study was of a systemic nature and the standpoints, as set out by the Milan family therapy team, were implemented. Ten months after the intervention, four of the HIV-positive mothers who had participated in the intervention were interviewed and encouraged to share their experiences. Circular questions were employed in the interviews as a means of gathering data. A qualitative design was therefore the best option for this study. The research findings of this study coincide with previous literature and research findings; thus, the findings of this study have been consolidated. The current study findings support the importance of bridging the distance that is created by HIV in family relations, particularly between mother and child. Newly-diagnosed mothers often become stuck in their own processes and distance themselves from others in order to make sense of their situation. The broader social stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS contribute further to the sense of isolation that HIV-positive women experience. Often, women perceive HIV to be a disruptive force in their relationships with their partners and children, which creates tension, secrets and uncertainty within the family. HIV-infected mothers generally feel that keeping secrets from their children protects them from being traumatized by the social stigmas surrounding HIV/AIDS. Some HIV-positive mothers also feel that an emotional distance will shield their children from the pain of losing their mother. Because they are grappling with many negative feelings, such as anger and frustration, many HIV-positive mothers resort to strict disciplinary measures and avoid spending time with their children. The children misinterpret their mother’s behaviour and react in a manner that the mother perceives to be both disrespectful and disobedient, thus creating a recurring cycle in which both mothers and children become stuck. The participating mothers perceived the mother-child interaction intervention to focus on their emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioural needs as well as the needs of their children. The mothers experienced the intervention as having been particularly helpful to them and their children. They perceived themselves to be warmer, more supportive, more accepting and to have found meaning in their lives. In addition they felt that their children had begun to behave themselves and were also less avoidant of them. It enhanced their understanding of one another, and strengthened their bond so that they can depend on each other in times of difficulty. CopyrightDissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Psychologyunrestricte

Effect of increased automation on the productivity of labor

The efforts of this investigation revealed several results that are to be expected, and several results that are not generally expected with an increase in automation. In brief, the former included the increase in productivity of direct labor, and decrease in the percentage of waste produced; the latter included increase in the productivity of the indirect labor groups, no increase in the degree of skill required by the labor groups, and an increase in the quality requirements of the basic raw material with the introduction of the entirely new equipment

Contemporary stroke care delivered in a specialised stroke bay, a neurology ward and a medical ward in Greece

Introduction: Currently in Greece there are only two ‘stroke bays’ (SBs) and their efficacy compared to standard ward treatment has not been evaluated.Aim: To provide baseline data on stroke case-mix and compare death rates in two Greek hospitals (A+B, i.e. with & without a SB).Material and Methods: One hundrend sixty four acute stroke patients from two hospitals were consecutively selected in order to explore approaches to stroke care in three different types of care delivery settings. A descriptive design with group comparisons was employedand data gathering included patient case mix, age and length of stay (LOS), neurological status and death rates. Kaplan-Meier curves we reused for survival analysis and independent samples t test and Z test for group comparisons at p<0.05.Results: Of the 164 patients, 88 (44.4%, female) werein hospital A and 76 (42.1%, female) in hospital B. The mean age was 65.7 and 69.1 years respectively, LOS was 7.6 (3-18) and 7.3 days (1-26), while death rate was 6.8% and 10.5% respectively.Discussion: Survival analysis for the two hospitalsshowed that there are no statistically significant differences regarding death and survival rates between the two hospitals, even when one had a SB. Yet, the SB shows a statistically significant reduction in overall LOS.Conclusions: In societies where stroke units are not yet established, a SB might be an economical way of making use of (limited) available resources and raising nursing and medical standards of care by motivating the full potential of staff involved

Effects of Lifestyle Measures, Antiobesity Agents, and Bariatric Surgery on Serological Markers of Inflammation in Obese Patients

Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in developed countries and are also becoming more frequent in the developing world. Overweight and obese patients have elevated levels of several inflammatory markers and this inflammatory state might contribute to their increased vascular risk. We summarize the effects of lifestyle changes, antiobesity agents, and bariatric surgery on serological inflammatory markers in overweight and obese patients. Most studies showed a decrease in inflammation with all 3 interventions. However, it remains to be established whether the decrease in inflammatory markers induced by lifestyle changes or (where indicated) with antiobesity agents or bariatric surgery will translate into reduced vascular morbidity and mortality in overweight and obese patients

Public awareness and service provision for stroke in Northern Greece

Η φροντίδα του αγγειακού εγκεφαλικού επεισοδίου γίνεται όλο και πιο δύσκολη όταν υπάρχει λιτότητα λόγω της κακής κατανομής των πόρων και της απαιτητικής φύσης της ίδιας της νόσου. Αυτό θέτει ιδιαίτερες απαιτήσεις για την επικαιροποίηση της κλινικής αριστείας και τη βέλτιστη οργάνωση των υπηρεσιών υγείας φροντίδας. Το αγγειακό εγκεφαλικό επεισόδιο παραμένει κύριο αίτιο θνησιμότητας καθώς και σοβαρή αιτία μακροχρόνια σωματική και ψυχική νοσηρότητα. Έτσι, πολλές δυτικές χώρες έχουν αναπτύξει και εφαρμόσει δημόσιες ενημερωτικές στρατηγικές. Αυτό δεν μπορεί εύκολα να «μεταφραστεί» στην Ελλάδα λόγω των ιδιαίτερων χαρακτηριστικών του συστήματος διαχείρισης νοσοκομείων, όπως το σύστημα εφημεριών για οξείες εισαγωγές. Αν και απαιτούνται νέες πολιτικές για τη βελτίωση των υπηρεσιών φροντίδας του αγγειακού εγκεφαλικού επεισοδίου αλλά αυτές αναβάλλονται λόγω έλλειψης χρηματοδότησης και τεχνικής τεχνογνωσίας. Επί του παρόντος, η Ελλάδα δεν είναι σε θέση να λειτουργήσει ένα Ολοκληρωμένο Κέντρο Αγγειακών Εγκεφαλικών Επεισοδίων το οποίο θα μπορεί να προσφέρει το υψηλότερο επίπεδο εξειδικευμένης πρόληψης και περίθαλψης. Παρόλα αυτά, με τη δημιουργία βραχυπρόθεσμων λύσεων όπως στην περίπτωση των επιμέρους μονάδων εγκεφαλικού επεισοδίου, οι τοπικοί εμπειρογνώμονες θα είναι σε θέση να παρέχουν το υψηλότερο επίπεδο φροντίδας από την εισαγωγή του ασθενή στα επείγοντα έως την αποκατάσταση του. Παρόλα αυτά και παρά τις αντίξοες συνθήκες, οι εργαζόμενοι στο ελληνικό σύστημα υγειονομικής περίθαλψης, καθημερινώς ξεπερνούν εαυτούς σε μια προσπάθειά να παρέχουν βέλτιστα αποτελέσματα φροντίδας.Stroke care comes increasingly difficult where there is austerity due to poor resource allocation and the demanding nature of the condition itself. This places special demands for updated clinical excellence and optimum organisation of scarce care services. Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality, as well as of subsequent serious long-term physical and mental morbidity. Thus, many western countries have developed and implemented public informative strategies. This cannot be easily ‘translated’ in Greece due to special features on the hospital administration system such as a unique rotation system for acute admissions. New policy decisions are needed to improve stroke services but these are deferred due to lack of funding and the technical knowhow required. Currently, Greece is not in a position to host a sophisticated Comprehensive Stroke Center, offering the highest level of specialized stroke prevention and stroke care. Yet, by creating short-term solutions as in the case of stroke bays, local experts would be able to provide the highest level of care from the second the patient is admitted to the emergency room through to his/her stroke recovery. Still, despite the adverse conditions, clinicians within the Greek health care system have been exceeding themselves in their attempt to provide optimum care outcomes

Circadian influences on myocardial infarction

Components of circadian rhythm maintenance, or “clock genes,� are endogenous entrainable oscillations of about 24 h that regulate biological processes and are found in the suprachaismatic nucleus (SCN) and many peripheral tissues, including the heart. They are influenced by external cues, or Zeitgebers, such as light and heat, and can influence such diverse phenomena as cytokine expression immune cells, metabolic activity of cardiac myocytes, and vasodilator regulation by vascular endothelial cells. While it is known that the central master clock in the SCN synchronizes peripheral physiologic rhythms, the mechanisms by which the information is transmitted are complex and may include hormonal, metabolic, and neuronal inputs. Whether circadian patterns are causally related to the observed periodicity of events, or whether they are simply epi-phenomena is not well established, but a few studies suggest that the circadian effects likely are real in their impact on myocardial infarct incidence. Cycle disturbances may be harbingers of predisposition and subsequent response to acute and chronic cardiac injury, and identifying the complex interactions of circadian rhythms and myocardial infarction may provide insights into possible preventative and therapeutic strategies for susceptible populations.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun