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A range of studies have reported that pivotal moments can occur in music therapy sessions. Four questions formed the basis for studying the pivotal moments in music therapy: 1.What are the main characteristics of pivotal moments? 2.Are there any specific aspects that help pivotal moments to emerge? 3. How do pivotal moments affect the patient’s process in therapy and life in general? 4. What is the importance of pivotal moments for the music therapist? The study was approached through completion of an extensive literature review reviewing descriptions and reports of pivotal moments from a range of fields including music therapy. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted with music therapists to provide a deeper understanding of their experience of pivotal moments, and to advance theorising about pivotal moments in music therapy. Interview data was analysed using Phenomenological Interpretative Analysis (IPA). A case study provides further support for the information gathered via the interviews and literature review. The case presents the emergence of a pivotal moment and describes its contribution within a short-term individual music therapy program with a man who has a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Pivotal moments are found to change the music therapy process and lead to a better understanding of the patient. The role of the therapist, the therapist’s qualities and basic features or techniques that support the emergence of pivotal moments, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High resolution airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) and multibeam bathymetry data, supplemented by geomorphological and geological field mapping are used to derive the glacial and post-glacial history of Troutbeck Valley (English Lake District) at a catchment scale. The results inform wider regional and ice sheet wide glacial reconstructions and demonstrate the effectiveness of an integrated approach combining geomorphological and sedimentological signatures with remote sensing. The holistic catchment approach is used to reconstruct palaeo-ice flow and behaviour of a small part of the last British and Irish Ice Sheet, identifying a series of depositional environments that accompanied both ice advance, ice retreat and post-glacial deposition within the Lake District. Drumlins are mapped in the lower catchment and show multiple regional (wider-extent) ice flow events and a sedimentology consistent with deposition by lodgement processes during the Main Late Devensian Stadial. Other subglacial deposits include till sequences formed under variable basal conditions beneath an advancing ice mass. Retreat features include a suite of recessional moraines formed by still-stands or small readvances of an outlet glacier. Following deglaciation, major sediment redistribution led to formation of a large fan delta via paraglacial and post-glacial fluvial sedimentation. This study indicates that an integrated approach, using geomorphology, sedimentology and remote sensing on a catchment scale, is capable of deriving a more in-depth understanding of regional ice sheet reconstructions and highlights the complexity of palaeo-ice sheet dynamics at a range of spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of diarrhoea in pigs and humans. The duration and severity of diarrhoea can be controlled using zinc supplementation, typically pharmacological levels of zinc oxide in pigs. In this study, IPEC J2 cells were used as an in vitro model of intestinal ETEC infection, with separate and simultaneous zinc treatment. Genomic analysis identified increased expression of a variety of innate immune response genes (NF-κB targets) in response to ETEC exposure, and several stress response genes in response to zinc exposure, provided as ZnO. Expression of genes involved in the innate immune response was reduced when cells were simultaneously exposed to ZnO, and it is suggested that ZnO treatment inhibits the induction of NF-κB in response to pathogens, possibly through up-regulated heat shock proteins. A similar response in vivo with consequent down-regulation in the inflammatory response would reduce further pathogen invasion, maintain normal gut function and maintain growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This article describes a project that explored the relationship between aggression and creativity in music therapy. It examines the role of aggression in psychological growth and how music therapy might have a unique role in channelling aggression. An exploratory qualitative study included a mixed methods approach of a case study and thematic analysis of interviews. It included three interviews with three experienced music therapists who were asked about their experience of aggression in music therapy. The case study supports the evidence gathered in the interviews, and describes short-term individual music therapy treatment with a man with a personality disorder diagnosis and a history of extremely aggressive behaviour. The study suggested a strong link between aggression, affect and body movement. Gathered information and results from interview analysis showed that aggression and creativity share important similarities in areas of mastery and control, affect and emotion, and action and intention. Conclusions of the study showed that music therapy can sometimes provide a context for safe exploration of aggression and deeper feelings. It can also enable the individual to sublimate negative emotions through appropriate expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A significant proportion of individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder do not seek or receive effective treatment. Understanding the reasons why an individual chooses to seek treatment or prefers one treatment to another is a critical step to improve treatment seeking. To begin to understand these reasons, we conducted a qualitative analysis of the reasons women gave for choosing a cognitive-behavioral treatment, prolonged exposure (PE), or a pharmacological treatment, sertraline (SER). A community sample of women with trauma histories were asked to view standardized rationales, to choose among PE, SER, or no treatment, and to give 5 reasons for their choice. Women indicated that they were more likely to prefer the psychotherapy to the medication. Across reasons given, the most commonly cited reason for treatment preference highlighted why or how the treatment worked (e.g., I need to talk about it); and this reason emerged as the strongest predictor of preference for PE. Understanding this role of perceived treatment mechanism may aid clinicians and public health policy officials to identify and address help-seeking barriers regarding treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the week following Hurricane Katrina, over 3000 patients were evacuated by air from a triage and medical treatment station at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. This represents the largest air evacuation in history. Over 24,000 additional evacuees were transported from the airport to shelters. Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) from several US states were deployed to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to provide medical care to those evacuated from New Orleans. Despite warning from the US National Weather Service of catastrophic damage to New Orleans, adequate medical staffing was not attained at the airport triage station until 6 days after the hurricane struck. Organizational lapses, including inadequate medical and operational planning, understaffing of medical personnel, and failure to utilize Incident Command System, diminished the effectiveness of the Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Medical Operation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rate of decline in plasma progesterone concentration may influence the success of lactogenesis in the sow. The aim of this experiment was to investigate whether progesterone concentration and rate of decline of progesterone in the periparturient sow could be manipulated by changing her feeding level. Forty-two sows received either 1.15 or 2 times maintenance energy daily from day 100 of gestation up until and including the day of farrowing. Blood samples were taken on days 98 (pre-treatment baseline) and 109 of gestation, during farrowing, 6 h after farrowing and at 09:00 h for the 3 days following farrowing. Plasma progesterone concentration was determined and progesterone half-life was calculated for each sow. High intake feeding had no effect on plasma progesterone concentration at any time of sampling. Progesterone half-life averaged 41.2±3.81 h and did not differ between treatments. There was no relationship between progesterone concentration, or half-life, and litter weight gain, although there was a weak correlation between decline in progesterone in the first 6 h after birth and piglet growth rate from birth to 6 days of age (R2=0.109, P<0.05). It was concluded that increasing feed intake in late gestation cannot be used to increase progesterone clearance rate and hasten the onset of lactogenesis in sows. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To determine the effect of specific weight on the metabolizable energy value of wheat grain for ruminants, 16 samples of winter wheat grain, comprising four cultivars (Riband, Buster, Consort and Haven) each at four specific weights ranging from 60 to 78 kg/hl were fed in a pelleted concentrate (wheat=0.7 of total fresh weight) to housed mature sheep at the maintenance level of feeding. The concentrate comprised 0.6 of total daily dry matter (DM) intake, and chopped winter wheat straw comprised 0.4 of total daily DM intake. There was no effect of specific weight on apparent digestibility of whole-diet DM or on whole-diet estimated metabolizable energy (ME) concentration. There were no interactions between specific weight and cultivar in terms of apparent digestibility of whole-diet DM. Apparent digestibility of DM was lower (P<0.05) for Buster and Consort than for Riband and Haven. Estimated concentration of ME was lower (P<0.05) for Buster than for Riband and Haven. There is energetic flexibility in the use of winter wheat of different specific weights in diets for ruminants, since there is no relationship between specific weight and metabolizable energy content. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Whilst hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial, it can be associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and stroke. As male to female transsexuals take much higher doses of oestrogen than women on HRT, they provide a unique opportunity to study the long-term effects of oestrogen in a group of relatively young individuals who are largely free of established vascular disease. Methods: Thirty-eight male to female gender patients were enrolled into the study. Of these, 25 were receiving oestrogen treatment and 13 who were not on treatment served as a control group. Serum levels of cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in all patients. Results: The results showed that compared to the control group, patients on oestrogen had significantly raised levels of NO (32.1±14.3 versus 20.3±10.0, P <0.05) and reduced levels of IL-6 (0.75±0.6 versus 1.37±0.7, P <0.05) and SOD (13.2±3.0 versus 24.0±10.0, P <0.05). These changes were not accompanied by any significant change in plasma lipid levels. Conclusion: It would appear that the very high levels of oestrogen taken by the gender patients produce similar beneficial effects to those seen in women on HRT. However, in this patient group it appears that these changes are independent of changes in cholesterol, triglyceride, and HLD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To compare cytokine levels in serum from non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage with those found in non-pregnant women with no such history. Study design: Two patient groups were enrolled into the study. Group 1 comprised 25 non-pregnant women with no history of recurrent miscarriage. Group 2 comprised 50 non-pregnant women who had a history of at least three previous miscarriages. Fifteen of these women have since become pregnant again—10 had a successful pregnancy and five miscarried. Serum levels of IL-4, IFNγ, IL-12 and IL-18 were measured. Results: Results showed IFNγ (0.68±0.72 versus 0.45±0.29 P<0.05) and IL-12 levels (66±25 versus 51±24 P<0.05) were significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. Levels of IL-18 were significantly lower in Group 2 patients (318±140 versus 246±219 P<0.05). Of the 15 women who became pregnant, those who miscarried again had significantly higher IL-18 levels when not pregnant than those women whose next pregnancies went successfully to term (547±20 versus 274±129 P<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that women with a history of recurrent miscarriage can have abnormal cytokine expression even when not pregnant. This may influence the potential for future successful immune modulatory therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: There remains concern that the antiplatelet effects of aspirin and clopidogrel vary between patients and poor responders may be at increased risk of adverse events. However, the optimal method of measuring aspirin and/or clopidogrel response remains unresolved. We compared three Methods of measuring clopidogrel response recommended by a recent consensus statement for the European Society of Cardiology, and investigated a novel approach to measuring aspirin response in patients established on both aspirin and clopidogrel. In addition, we investigated whether any of these assays predict peri-procedural myocardial necrosis following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A cross-section of 323 patients attending for PCI was tested for clopidogrel response using VerifyNow P2Y12, VASP Platelet Reactivity Index (VASP-PRI) and whole blood impedance aggregometry (WBPA). Aspirin response was assessed by measuring the residual ability of platelets to generate thromboxane, calculated as the difference between thromboxane B2 levels in serum and plasma, [TxB2]S-P. Peri-procedural myocardial necrosis was determined by a change in troponin I >0.2μmol/l. ResultS: Patients demonstrated wide variation in response to both aspirin and clopidogrel. Correlation between VerifyNow P2Y12 and VASP-PRI was good (r=0.702, p<0.001). Correlation was moderate between WBPA and VerifyNow P2Y12 (r=0.639, p<0.001) and weak for WBPA and VASP-PRI (r=0.353, p<0.001). Only VerifyNow P2Y12 predicted peri-procedural myocardial necrosis. ConclusionS: The three Methods of measuring response to clopidogrel identify different patients as poor responders. Poor response to clopidogrel assessed by VerifyNow P2Y12 predicts myocardial necrosis. Measurement of [TxB2]S-P demonstrates a wide variation in aspirin response in patients taking dual antiplatelet therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is a key antioxidant for both plants and animals. In plants, ascorbate is involved in several key physiological processes including photosynthesis, cell expansion and division, growth, flowering, and senescence. In addition, ascorbate is an enzyme cofactor and a regulator of gene expression. During exposure to abiotic stresses, ascorbate counteracts excessive reactive oxygen species within the cell and protects key molecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, from irreversible damage. In this study we focus on understanding how ascorbate levels are controlled in rice (Oryza sativa) during plant development and in response to light intensity and photoperiod. Our results indicate that in rice ascorbate metabolism follows a different pattern compared to other species. In the rice accessions we analyzed, total foliar ascorbate content increases during development and peaks at the vegetative 2–4 and the reproductive 4 stages, whereas other research has shown that in Arabidopsis thaliana and other dicots, ascorbate content declines with plant age. The pattern in rice does not seem to change when plants were grown under increasing light intensity: 150, 400 or 1200–1500 μmol m−2 s−1. We observed little diurnal variation in AsA content in rice and did not see a steady decline during the dark period as has been reported in other species such as Arabidopsis and tomato. The total foliar ascorbate content of twenty-three rice accessions from four major rice subgroups was compared. These genotypes differed as much as eight-fold in ascorbate content at the V2 stage indicating the potential to enhance vitamin C levels in genotypes of global interest via breeding approaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]