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Aged abuse can manifest as physical harm, sexual assault, intimidation, blackmail, and social deprivation, misappropriation of funds or property, and neglect. The extent of the problem is difficult to assess in health settings due to underreporting and the fragility and reluctance of the elderly in being able to discuss the issue with health care providers. This appears to be related to the fact that perpetrators are frequently family members with resulting issues of aged dependency, family loyalty, and fear of the consequences of reporting. Of equal importance is a general lack of community understanding of aged abuse, including health professionals who frequently lack the confidence in screening and management to respond appropriately when aged abuse is suspected. Staff knowledge and skills emerge as a deficit in the detection of elder abuse and staff education has been identified as an effective means of improving the recognition of the abused elderly person in acute hospital settings. In addition, there remains a need for effective screening protocols. The aim of this study was to explore the recognition of aged abuse in an acute and subacute hospital setting. This has implications for effective management and community linkage as well as strengthening the knowledge base of issues related to this vulnerable group. The study included a survey and interview with hospital staff to explore their response to aged abuse over a retrospective twelve-month period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The authors compared the predictive effects of acculturative stressors and meaning of life on life satisfaction between Chinese students in Australia and in Hong Kong. Participants: In 2006, the researchers recruited 606 Chinese students studying abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia and at 6 universities in Hong Kong. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire that included measures of acculturative stressors, meaning of life, life satisfaction, and demographic information. Results: The Australian sample experienced a significantly higher level of acculturative stressors than did the Hong Kong sample, but life satisfaction did not differ significantly between the 2 samples. Meaning of life had a strong positive contribution and acculturative stressors had a negative contribution in predicting life satisfaction in both samples. Meaning of life partially mediated the relationship between acculturative stressors and life satisfaction in both samples. Conclusions: The authors discuss the theoretical and practical implications for Chinese students studying abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the anisotropic electrostatic interaction with high rank multipoles (l = 5) for a set of 10 van der Waals complexes and 27 DNA base pairs. Multipoles are generated by the distributed multipole analysis (DMA) and by the topological quantum theory of 'atoms in molecules' (AIM). The convergence of the multipolar expansion of the interaction between topological atoms is improved by distributing the moments over extra off-nuclear sites via a shifting procedure. A clear theoretical distinction is made between partitioning and distributing. A substantial improvement in the convergence of the AIM multipole expansion is observed for the smaller van der Waals molecules. An AIM representation with extra sites on the bond midpoints performs as well as DMA with just nuclear sites. However, for the larger DNA base pairs no improvement follows from the introduction of extra sites with AIM. For these larger systems AIM and DMA expansions perform equivalently, provided that now DMA allows for extra sites. This work further encourages the development of a topological intermolecular force field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An online qualitative survey explored perceived training, readiness, and needs of recent SW graduates serving older adults. Over half (N = 14) held a master's in social work, with 70% having taken an introductory aging course. Nearly halfcompleted other aging-specific coursework, and 80% did fieldwork with older adults. Participants indicated moderate proficiency in assessing issues like lossestransitions (46.7%), and physical health (53.3%), and advanced expertise in cognitive assessments (60.0%) and caregiver stress management (53.3%). Training deficiencies were noted in disaster readiness, telehealth, and resource coordination. Findings underscore the need for educationfor early-career social workers, ensuring their effective support to older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite shifting attention from whether practice research is advantageous to doing practice research better, the organisational role of internal social work intermediaries beyond initiating practice-research partnerships, especially in Asia, is less understood. Using a multi-modal qualitative case study approach, across project conceptualisation, implementation, and dissemination, we first documented the initial benefits and challenges of an internal Singaporean social work intermediary bridging practitioners and researchers. Subsequently, we described how the intermediary seized opportunities and went beyond mere stakeholder bridging by defining engagement terms and creating, using, and opening up a practice-research space. Implications for internal intermediaries and organisational functions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we (two researchers and three practitioners from Singapore) reflect on the challenges and opportunities of practice-research collaborations. While researchers and practitioners share a common goal to improve services, challenges can arise due to differing perspectives and priorities and power dynamics between team members. However, diversity of perspectives can enrich the research process when strengths of practitioners and researchers are utilised. Collaborative relationships can be optimised with careful selection of the appropriate team members, effective communication, and by practicing reflexivity. Our reflections highlight the benefits of practice-research collaborations and the importance of navigating partnerships to achieve shared outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Click chemistry reactions constitute an important and relatively new approach in the medicinal chemistry toolbox and offer substantial advantages to medicinal chemists in terms of overcoming the limitations of facile chemical synthesis, increased throughput, yields and improved quality of compound libraries. Over the last two decades, click chemistry has been widely used in different aspects of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) modulators drug design. This review provides an overview of the general principles and applications of click chemistry in CA-related research, including the design of selective CA inhibitors (CAIs), their applications against several diseases such as innovative anticancer and anti-infective agents, fluorescent and radiopharmaceutical probes as new theranostic agents, as well as their application in protein labelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In 2017, international students contributed almost $32 billion to Australia's economy, more than half of which was attributable to students from China. Despite its historical popularity as a study destination, research suggests that these students confront numerous obstacles in pursuing their studies within Australia. In this study, the perspectives of these students were explored. The dominant issues raised by these students related to mental health and emotional wellbeing. Methods: Nineteen students in one Australian university participated in one-on-one in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using grounded theory approaches. Three broad themes were generated in the study: psychological stress (which was linked to language barriers, shifts in pedagogy, and changes in lifestyle); perceived safety (which was linked to lack of security, safety and perceived racial discrimination); and social isolation (linked to reduced sense of belonging; lacking close personal connections; and feelings of loneliness and homesickness). Conclusions: Results suggested that a tripartite model of interactive risk factors may be appropriate for exploring how international students fare emotionally with their new environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of life (QoL) is a widely recognized and valuable social outcome measure in drug treatment and rehabilitation services, but the discrepancies in QoL perceptions between service users and providers remain under-explored. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with service users (n = 22) and providers (n = 29) to capture their perceptions of QoL and explore the similarities and discrepancies between their views. A thematic analysis and contrast exploration revealed a shared understanding of QoL that extends beyond health to six dimensions and prioritizes empowerment and connection. However, divergent views emerged regarding the priorities of material conditions, emotional well-being, and physical health. Findings underscore the importance of using shared decision-making as a strategy to effectively address these discrepancies and promote a more patient-centered approach in treatment and rehabilitation services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although spirituality seems to protect against suicidality and substance misuse, in 2022 81% of United States residents believe in God and yet prevalence of these global health issues are increasing. 12-Step programs are inherently spiritual in their approach to recovery. We used a clinically mined dataset built from everyday clinical data that a substance use day treatment program in a midwestern state of the USA originally collected for their treatment purposes. Data included information from 444 client files from three day treatment sites within the same agency. Using logistic regression, we analyzed the relationships between suicidality, spirituality, and treatment discharge. Suicidality and spirituality, including 12-Step involvement prior to treatment, did not have a statistically significant effect on substance use day treatment discharge. However, treatment length and age were associated with completed treatment. While spirituality and suicidality are important concepts with relevance to recovery, they did not affect whether clients completed substance use day treatment. However, because recovery is not just about abstinence or risk reduction, suicidality and spiritually likely have relevance for the overall recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamete and embryo quality are critical to the success rate of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles, but there remains a lack of methods to accurately measure the quality of sperm, oocytes and embryos. The ability of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to analyze large amounts of data, especially video and images, is particularly useful in gamete and embryo assessment and selection. The well-trained model has fast calculation speed and high accuracy, which can help embryologists to perform more objective gamete and embryo selection. Various artificial intelligence models have been developed for gamete and embryo assessment, some of which exhibit good performance. In this review, we summarize the latest applications of AI technology in semen analysis, as well as selection for sperm, oocyte and embryo, and discuss the existing problems and development directions of artificial intelligence in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research highlights adaptive applications of spiritual intelligence, specifically its relationship to positive well-being and quality of life. Limited studies have examined its applicability within secular Western contexts. Two-hundred and fourteen New Zealand university students completed a questionnaire measuring their spiritual intelligence, resilience, and several aspects of wellbeing. Results revealed that spiritual intelligence was significantly associated with increased resilience and reduced feelings of depression and stress, but not anxiety. However, the relationship between spiritual intelligence scores and combined depression, anxiety, and stress scores was fully mediated by resilience scores, suggesting that spiritual intelligence per se may not directly affect wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the negative impact of COVID 19 on tourists' daily emotional well-being and travel intention, this study attempts to investigate how tourists' daily emotional well-being may and to what extent influence their travel motivations and satisfaction in the context of COVID 19. Based on a sample of 511 Macao tourists, who have recently returned from their vacation, this study has identified four motivational dimensions for tourism consumption and destination choice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The tests for the hypotheses proposed in the conceptual model of this study revealed that tourists' push factor of 'escape & relaxation' drove them to pursue a pleasure tour, while the 'safety and convenience' was perceived as the most important pull factor for destination selection. The study empirically confirmed the impact of push factor for tourism consumption on pull factor for destination selection. Moreover, the significant moderating effects of positive affect on the relationships between the push, pull motivations, and tourist satisfaction suggested that less positive emotional well-being in daily life tended to strengthen the relationship between push and pull motivations, and the effects of push and pull motivations on tourist satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a psychological training intervention based on emotional regulation on anxiety and climbing ability in women climbers with fear of falling. A secondary aim was to compare the outcomes of climbing ability, anxiety, self-confidence and interoceptive awareness (IA) between the psychological group (PG), a training (TG) and a control group. Self-reported climbing ability, anxiety and IA were assessed using Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire. Results indicated a significant improvement in climbing ability for both PG and TG. The PG showed a significant reduction in cognitive and somatic anxiety, while the TG only exhibited a reduction in cognitive anxiety. Moreover, the PG demonstrated a greater significant increase in self-confidence compared to the TG. IA improved in five subscales for the PG, whereas the TG changed in only two subscales. In conclusion, a psychological training intervention focusing on emotional regulation might contribute to improvements in IA, reduced anxiety levels, and enhancements in climbing ability and self-confidence among women climbers facing fear of falling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore stressors among young university students. Twenty-nine 18- to 25-year-old university students. Four focus group discussions (n = 29) were conducted to explore mental health and stressors among domestic and international university students. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis to identify emerging themes and relationships. Five primary stressors emerged from the data: Balance, Interpersonal Relationships, Future Prospects, Performance Pressure and Financial Issues and Employment. Although many distinct relationships were identified between themes, "Balance" affected and influenced most other stressors. Five stressors were identified, most of which related to a lack of balance and time-management. Too many competing commitments and difficulty prioritizing were key influences. Interventions and policy to address stressors in students may reduce student psychological stress. Universities can provide support for students to prioritize commitments, provide flexible study opportunities and offer financial guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using clinical data mining (CDM) methodology, this study evaluates the relationship between childhood trauma and treatment outcomes among adults with substance use disorders. Data come from three substance use treatment facilities operating under the same agency using the same treatment program (N = 444). We examined the influence of childhood trauma, neglect, and school violence on substance use treatment completion and length of stay. We also looked at the connection between client's family history of substance use and their experience of neglect and childhood trauma. We found that family history of substance use was significantly related to both neglect and childhood trauma. We also found that the number of weeks a client spent in treatment was associated treatment location. Furthermore, client age at admission and program completion were significantly related. Marital status, sex, and number of diagnoses significantly related to childhood trauma. These findings suggest that comprehensive assessments that focus on understanding client demographics and history of family substance use can guide effective intervention. Further research on how childhood trauma influences substance use treatment outcomes can also help improve treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Chinese pre-arrival training programs are focused on English language training without preparing students with psychological readiness to overcome potential adversities. This paper explores the effectiveness of an innovative six-week pre-arrival training program that integrated English training with resilience training through the lens of social constructionism. The program involved a mix of English proficiency training using stories with an underlying resilience theme coupled with further reinforcement of resilience skills through interactive narratives, bibliotherapy and art therapy. Thirty Chinese students who were enrolled in a joint venture training program between China and the U.K. were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The result of the pretest and posttest comparison after students participated in the training program showed a significant improvement in the experimental group's overall English skills and resilience, and a decrease in their anxiety, stress, and depression compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban citizens increasingly need to adapt to climate risk. This is especially the case in informal settlements that have limited state engagement and are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Community-based adaptation (CBA) in the informal settlement has the potential to support the transformation that re-shapes power relations as well as reducing climate risk. This paper explores how multiscalar governance in Cape Town can either empower or undermine CBA to flooding in informal settlements. Drawing on urban political ecology, the analysis reveals significant tension around differing ideas of the temporality of informal settlements, as well as token community inclusivity in participatory planning processes. While everyday governance practices have been used by the City of Cape Town at the local scale, a local community-based organisation has used insurgent planning to envision and enact a more just city. A community designed and spear-headed reblocking process (rearranging shacks in a settlement to allow for flood drainage and service delivery) is a powerful example of CBA and represents the potential of community-based organisations to take steps towards transformative action. In order to enable more widespread urban transformative CBA, it is important to address the drivers of vulnerabilities and underlying power dynamics of political decision-making to destabilise the status quo and move towards real adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social Work qualifying programmes teach students the necessary knowledge, skills, and values during a series of taught modules. Formal opportunities to integrate knowledge into practice are provided through practice placements in social work agencies. Each practice placement enables agency and/or academic staff to gate-keep entry into the profession, through assessing student competence against agreed practice learning requirements, readiness to practice, and adherence to professional social work standards. This research study seeks to expand our understanding of the incidence of and reasons why students failed their practice placement whilst studying social work on the island of Ireland. On receipt of ethical approval, Practice Teacher reports and minutes of Practice Assessment Panels were used for data collection. Sixty-three students (19 male, 44 female; mean age 34 years) failed placement 2015–2019, with the majority (58.7%) failing first placement. Reasons for failing were categorised into knowledge, skills, values and personal reasons. The most common reasons for failing were a poor understanding of the professional social work role, poor time management, poor written work, the inability to follow direction, limited application of knowledge to practice, and poor professional conduct. Results suggest most students disclosed mitigating circumstances, which affected engagement and competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry (ESI-IMS—MS) is a rapidly progressing analytical technique for the examination of complex compounds in the gas phase. ESI-IMS—MS separates isomers, provides structural information, and quantitatively identifies peptides, lipids, carbohydrates, polymers, and metabolites in biological samples. ESI-IMS—MS has pharmaceutical, environmental, and manufacturing applications quickly characterizing drugs, petroleum products, and metal macromolecules. This review provides the history of ESI-IMS—MS development and applications to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To survey social workers in the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI)/acquired brain injury (ABI) about their practice in conducting psychosocial assessments. Design: A cross-sectional quality assurance study. A cross-sectional quality assurance study. Social workers from professional social work rehabilitation networks spanning Sweden, the United Kingdom, North America, and Asia Pacific regions. Purpose-designed survey comprising closed and open items, organized into six sections and administered electronically. The 76 respondents were mainly female (65/76, 85.5%) from nine countries (majority from Australia, United States, Canada). Two-thirds of respondents were employed in outpatient/ community settings (51/76, 67.1%), with the balance working in inpatient/rehabilitation hospital settings. Over 80% of respondents conducted psychosocial assessments, with the assessments informed by a systemic focus, situating the individual within their broader family and societal networks. The top five issues identified in inpatient/rehabilitation settings were housing related needs, informed consent for treatment, caregiver support, financial issues and navigating the treatment system. In contrast, the leading issues identified in community settings related to emotional regulation, treatment resistance and compliance issues, depression, and self-esteem. Social workers assessed a broad range of psychosocial issues spanning individual, family, and environmental contextual factors. Findings will contribute to future development of a psychosocial assessment framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-production is increasingly embraced as a means to combine forms of urban expertise to address complex and uncertain societal problems. Conventional city-regional intelligence processes rely on epistemic monocultures that prioritize certain forms of expertise over others. Co-production challenges dominant conceptualizations of city-regional intelligence through questioning what and whose knowledge matters. We suggest that the co-production of city-regional intelligence is a political epistemic practice comprised of strategies of intermediation and tactics of unsettling. We draw on experiences working in Cape Town (South Africa) and Greater Manchester (UK) to critically reflect on how different strategies and tactics can open up the concept of city-regional intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legally mandated substance use treatment is prevalent but controversial and further research aimed at understanding this relationship is important for developing and informing social policy, social work practice, and education. This study used clinical data mining to examine the relationship between a client's legal involvement, treatment engagement, and treatment completion. By using structural equation modeling, this study found that legal involvement did not have an effect on clients' engagement in treatment or on completing treatment, while engagement was shown to have an effect on whether the client completed treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitioning towards sustainable diets is imperative to avoid the worst effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and malnutrition. In South Africa, households most vulnerable to food insecurity employ various strategies to access food. These include purchasing hampers; a combination of staple foods sold in bulk at a discounted price, which are cake wheat flour, super maize meal, white sugar, cooking oil, and white parboiled rice. We explore the barriers and opportunities for hampers to advance sustainable diets in the context of Cape Town. Our findings show hampers contain energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Furthermore, we find that brand loyalty plays an important role in households' purchase of hampers. We conclude there is potential to leverage hampers to become a sustainable strategy through which people can access healthier food by working with retailers to offer nutritious and sustainably produced alternatives. Such change would require challenging retailers' and consumers' understanding of what 'necessities' are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family members play a pivotal role in supporting cardiovascular self-management-based care of community-living adults with severe mental illness (SMI). However, little is known about what strategies caregivers employ as part of their caring roles. This paper aims to explore what caregiving strategies work (or not), why and how by collating and synthesising existing evidence on this issue. A systematic search of peer-reviewed qualitative and mixed-method studies published between 2000 and 2019 was employed. This comprehensive process generated only nine papers for subsequent meta-synthesis of qualitative data. Findings suggested that caregivers have a complex yet comprehensive role to play in initiating and perpetuating self-management-based cardiovascular care. The elements of recovery such as promoting hope, normality, autonomy and identity were flagged as critical underpinning factors that motivated the person with SMI to adopt a healthy lifestyle. However, it was evident that caregivers needed to walk alongside the person, at times, to help them reach their maximum potential in sustaining improved self-management behaviours. Caregivers sit in a favourable bridging position between healthcare systems and community-living individuals with SMI, to support their cardiovascular health. However, this powerful but invisible 'workforce' clearly needs further support involving finance, skill-development and acknowledgement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-pandemic, the international education marketplace was expanding rapidly along with cross-border educational mobilities. Researchers have explored the adaptions of international students to study destinations, notably within an acculturation framework. However, researchers have given less attention to adapting to life in the country of origin that international students encounter as returnees. It is commonplace for returning graduates to transition from higher education to employment. Despite such challenges, few studies have investigated how international students reintegrate into the job markets of their home countries. In this paper, we discuss the current state of relevant research on acculturation and reacculturation and provide a foundation for future research. Finally, theoretical and practical contributions in the field of counselling and guidance are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a voluntary walking program that combined moderate physical activity and student interaction on student retention at a community college. Methods: A sample of 69 students at a suburban community college voluntarily joined a walking program and logged the number of minutes they walked and the number of people they spoke to each day. Using a Chi-Squared Test of Independence, the study sample was compared to a matched sample of nonparticipating students. Results: There was a significant difference in these groups relative to retention. A Fisher's Exact Test was used to consider (a) the difference between participants who walked at least 150 minutes per week Reference (1) and those who did not relative to retention and (b) the difference between participants who interacted while walking and those who did not relative to retention. These tests showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Participation in the walking program was significantly associated with retention, but amount of moderate activity or interaction was not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) is a preventable adverse event following incorrect vaccine administration, which can result in significant long-term morbidity. There has been a notable surge in reported cases of SIRVA as a rapid national population-based COVID-19 immunization program has been rolled out across Australia. Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community (SAEFVIC) in Victoria identified 221 suspected cases of SIRVA following the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination program, reported between February 2021 and February 2022. This review describes the clinical features and outcomes of SIRVA in this population. Additionally, a suggested diagnostic algorithm is proposed, in order to facilitate early recognition and management of SIRVA. 151 cases were confirmed as SIRVA, with 49.0% having received vaccines at state vaccination centers. 75.5% were suspected incorrect administration site, with most patients experiencing shoulder pain and restricted movement within 24 hours of vaccination, lasting on average 3 months. Improved awareness and education regarding SIRVA is imperative in a pandemic vaccine roll-out. The development of a structured framework for evaluating and managing suspected SIRVA will aid in timely diagnosis and treatment, essential to mitigate potential long-term complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reports findings from a qualitative study on the triggers of hospital social workers' moral distress at a large southern U.S. health system. Moral distress occurs when ethical conflict cannot be resolved in a way that aligns with an individual's personal and professional values and ethics. Participants indicated that moral distress derives from both individual interactions and the culture and climate of health systems. For example, participants expressed how sources of moral distress derived from client-centered decisions, such as end-of-life care and patient autonomy; interpersonal dynamics, including team or supervisory conflict; structural issues, such as insurance barriers or internal hospital policies; and organizational values, such as perceptions of institutional support and validation. Implications of this research suggest that health systems need to foster positive ethical environments that nurture clinicians' health and mental health through programs that aim to increase moral resilience, promote empowerment, and foster wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system, the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) is still remarkably poor. Paradol is a flavor phenolic constituent found in pepper and ginger, with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. However, the effects of paradol on GBM cells remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of paradol on U-87 and U-251 GBM cells. Cell viability and Transwell assays revealed that paradol treatment markedly inhibited the viability and migration of GBM cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, which was verified by the downregulation of CCNA and CCNB expression using western blotting. Paradol-induced cell apoptosis was confirmed by annexin V-FITC/PI staining and nuclear morphology. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was determined by western blotting. Collectively, our data revealed that paradol inhibited cell viability and migration of GBM cells by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis, and activating ERK and p38 MAPK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the values enacted by social workers involved in care planning for older people and their implications. The data are derived from an ethnographic study of a hospital social work team responsible for planning and arranging packages of care, almost exclusively for older patients (aged 80+), prior to their discharge, in a large general hospital in the UK. The study set out to explore the nature of statutory hospital social work, how hospital social workers do their work, and how social work fits into the hospital context. The primary methods of data collection were participant observation and semi-structured interviews with social workers, clinicians, patients and carers. Where patients' mental capacity was not in doubt, social workers were found to be strong advocates of patients' choices as free individuals. It is argued that the individualistic focus of the social workers' practices facilitates the production of a precarious existence that can be characterised in Bauman's terms as 'liquid old age', which involves coping with the physical, emotional and social challenges of ageing alone or with little assistance. Depending on an individual's circumstances, the social workers' advocacy of personal choice can either be liberating or detrimental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehabilitation of memory remains an unmet need for many stroke survivors. Telehealth methods may provide a solution, however evidence supporting the efficacy of remotely-delivered therapy is needed. A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was used with randomized onset of intervention across five individuals with chronic stroke-related memory complaints. A six-week compensatory memory skills programme was delivered individually via internet videoconferencing. Target behaviours of frequencies of self-reported lapses of everyday and prospective memory were measured weekly across baseline, intervention, and follow-up phases. A secondary outcome of functional goal attainment was measured once per phase, with participants setting two personal rehabilitation goals. Data were analysed visually and statistically. Improvements in memory functioning were statistically significant on at least one measure of target behaviour for four out of five participants at intervention or follow-up. Visual evidence of level change indicated at least modest improvements for all participants by follow-up. All participants attained at least one functional goal by follow-up. High rates of treatment adherence and participant satisfaction were observed. Technological issues were minimal and did not impact content delivery or engagement. These results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a telehealth-delivered rehabilitation programme in improving memory function and achieving memory-related goals for stroke survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much as one would like to be able to base permanency decisions on the solid ground of empirical findings and objective knowledge, the nature of child abuse precludes this possibility. In the absence of any unitary knowledge base, it is important to know what knowledge social workers use to inform their permanency decisions. This article presents findings from an exploratory in-depth qualitative research project with the objective of exploring the knowledge that social workers use to make decisions regarding permanency arrangements for Looked after Children. This research formed part of my Doctorate in Childhood Studies at Queen's University Belfast. Thinking aloud-protocols and semi-structured interviews, in conjunction with a specifically constructed vignette, were used as an innovative methodology to explore the knowledge used to make permanency decisions by experienced practitioners in a local authority in Northern Ireland. A thematic analysis was used to structure the findings. An adapted model of knowledge was used to structure the themes which was based on Drury-Hudson (1997. A model of professional knowledge for social work. Australian Social Work, 50(3), 35–44) and Pawson et al's. (2003) model of knowledge. The findings show that organisational knowledge and practitioner knowledge were privileged almost exclusively over research, theory and service user knowledge. Findings also reveal that using these two sources of knowledge led to overwhelmingly protectionist oriented decisions, significantly affecting the care trajectory of the child in the vignette. Recommendations are made with the aim of improving the extent and depth of practitioner knowledge in this field, thus helping to increase the robustness, consistency and defensibility of decisions taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncology social work provides services to individuals, groups, families, caregivers, and communities. As part of a larger audit of social work activities across 17 Victorian health services, a subanalysis was conducted to investigate social work practice in oncology (n = 49) compared to general medicine settings (n = 55). Social workers in oncology were more likely to address issues of adjustment to the condition, anxiety, and finances. Social workers in general medicine more frequently focused on dementia, elder abuse, and transition of clients to Residential Assisted Care. Oncology social workers conducted higher frequencies of interventions involving advocacy, brief or single session intervention, and counselling compared to general medicine, where discharge planning was significantly more common. Finally, oncology social workers were more likely to have used a narrative or supportive care model compared to the general medicine group. These findings can help better target training and upskilling of social workers for practice in different healthcare settings. IMPLICATIONS Audits of practice assist to describe the complex array of issues addressed by social work both within oncology and the broader healthcare settings. Identifying key interventions and emphases pertaining to oncology provides a focus for future evaluation of the effectiveness of social work practice across key domains within oncology. Better understanding of practice can lay the groundwork for targeted training programs to enhance social worker knowledge and skills in oncology and broader healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social workers provide services in many cancer settings however there has been limited research into Australian oncology social work practice. This multisite study investigated the reasons those affected by a cancer diagnosis were referred to social workers and the types of intervention undertaken. Clinical data-mining methodology was used to complete a retrospective review of 250 patient medical records. Qualitative and descriptive analyses were undertaken with comparisons to existing classification systems. Findings of significance were that residential location, socio-economic status, gender, relationship status, responsibilities for dependent children, and other complex individual circumstances were key reasons for referral to social workers. Interventions included psychosocial assessment, financial management, counselling, service coordination, and advocacy across multiple systems. Complex circumstances reflecting systemic social inequalities led to higher levels of social worker engagement. The study outcomes indicate that social workers have a significant role in the provision of effective psychosocial cancer care. Poorer cancer outcomes are linked to socio-economic, cultural, and systemic disadvantage, all of which are domains of social work practice. Working across multiple systems, social workers provide a range of skilled interventions to patients, families, carers, and others in complex social situations exacerbated by a diagnosis of cancer. Improving availability and access to social workers will address many of the social circumstances that have a detrimental impact on those affected by cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TheoryIn Medicine, arriving at the correct diagnosis is of paramount importance for patient health and safety, yet is a difficult task especially when a patient presents with symptoms that do not fit typical patterns of disease. This task can be further complicated by errors of judgment, with the failure to consider all possible diagnoses being the most common of such errors. In this study, we investigated the process of differential diagnosis generation within the growing evidence that diagnostic performance can be increased by activities such as walking as was previously shown in Oppezzo and Schwartz's 2014 study. Hypotheses: It was hypothesized that an increase in performance, as expressed by a greater number of plausible differential diagnoses, would be seen in the walking group. Method: Eighteen medical students in their last two months of pre-clerkship training and eighteen second year family medicine residents were shown four different lists of a constellation of signs and symptoms. Participants were asked to generate differential diagnoses over five minutes per each list. All participants sat when completing the first two lists (pretest phase), and then were equally and randomly assigned to sitting versus walking on a treadmill when completing the last two lists (post-test phase). The number of total and unique differential diagnoses generated was determined, before being submitted to a three-member expert panel who identified appropriate unique differential diagnoses. Results: Two-way mixed ANOVAs were conducted to investigate the impact of exercise on the number of total, unique, and appropriate unique ideas generated and compared between pretest and post-test phases. Conclusions: We conclude that there is neither an increase nor a decrease in the number or quality of differential diagnoses generated by the sitting and walking groups within a population that has acquired some level of expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluate changes in mood, perceived need for help, and task enjoyment after participation in a one-time Oncology on Canvas expressive arts workshop intervention. Mixed methods design. Sample: military-veteran oncology survivors and their adult 'ohana (family members, caregivers, friends, healthcare providers, volunteers). Measurement tools: Emotion Thermometers, Multiple Affect Adjective Checklist-Revised, Task Enjoyment Question, semi-structured interviews, and self-reflective narratives. Colaizzi's Phenomenological Method was used to conduct a thematic analysis. Significant improvements in mood, increased task enjoyment, and decreased perceived need for help, with continued effects for up to 30-60 days post-intervention. A one-time expressive arts workshop intervention can provide a window for oncology survivors and their adult 'ohana to reflect on a stressful experience. Psychosocial healthcare providers (APRNs, nurse educators, LCSWs, psychologists) who are not professional art therapists can effectively implement expressive arts workshops as a cost-effective intervention for oncology survivors and their 'ohana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Despite evidence of the efficacy of telerehabilitation post-stroke, uptake has lagged behind the development of available technology, slowed by low confidence in user experience. We aimed to explore the issue of acceptability by characterizing the experience of telerehabilitation for service providers and consumers of a memory rehabilitation program. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine clinicians (Mage = 33.29; SD = 7.37; range 25-44) and 25 stroke survivors with memory difficulties (Mage = 54.12; SD = 10.99; range 36-82) following a 6-week compensatory memory skills program delivered via in-home videoconferencing. Thematic analysis identified a range of perspectives under three overarching themes: (1) Content and Delivery; (2) Relationship and Connection; and (3) The Role and Benefits of Telerehabilitation. Reports from both respondent groups were overwhelmingly positive about the telerehabilitation experience and identified the benefits of increasing service availability. Videoconferencing technology was usable and occasional reliability issues were not a barrier. Users identified a range of benefits and challenges regarding communication, rapport building, and integration of rehabilitation in the home environment. Furthermore, most stroke survivors reported benefit from the intervention, via the acquisition of memory strategies and improved self-confidence through better understanding of their deficits. Overall, telerehabilitation of memory was acceptable to users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials (NMs) are currently treated via recycling, incineration and/or landfilling at their end-of-life. Little is known about the fate of NMs in incineration systems and the efficiency of the available flue-gas cleaning technologies (FGCT) in these systems on the removal of NMs before stack release. In combination with other FGCT such as cyclones, electrostatic precipitator or bag filters, scrubbers participate to limit the release of particulate matter (PM) into the atmosphere. No study has been carried out to investigate wet scrubber collection efficiency regarding nanoparticles under conditions found in a waste incineration plant. In the present study, experimental campaigns were carried out to quantify the performance of a pilot-scale spray scrubber regarding the removal of nanoparticles. The pilot was designed with respect to geometrical, hydrodynamic and residence time scale similitude and operated in gas temperature and humidity conditions representative of full-scale scrubbers in hazardous waste incineration plants. A collection efficiency of 45–62% for a particle size range of 12–90 nm was reported. To evaluate the experimental results, an existing PM collection model based on the 3 main particle collection mechanisms of diffusion, interception and impaction, was adapted for extreme humidity and gas temperature conditions typical of a waste incineration plant. A comparison of the experimental and theoretical results was made indicating that the model results were in good agreement with the experimental results. Contrary to prior studies, the impaction-dominant region occurred at smaller particle sizes (0.1–0.2 µm) corresponding to Stokes number 9 × 10−3 to 4 × 10−2. Numerically, the contribution of the interception mechanism in the collection of nanoparticles (particle sizes 1–100 nm) was found to be negligible (i.e., Interception number 2 × 10−5 to 2 × 10−3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study offers a nuanced understanding of the ways that adolescents in collectivist cultural contexts experience and develop their purpose engagement. We adopted a person-centered approach to categorize 450 Chinese adolescents into clusters based on their similarities on the dimensions of purpose exploration and commitment. Consistent with expectations, we found that adolescents with Achieved profiles were the most adaptive among all: they had the highest scores as to personal characteristics (e.g., hope, prosocial tendency, self-efficacy), highest parental support (e.g., parent–child attachment, autonomy facilitation, emotional support), highest life satisfaction, and lowest depressive emotions scores. Conversely, adolescents with Diffused profiles were the least adaptive. Adolescents with Uncommitted and Foreclosed profiles scored between those of Achieved and Diffused groups and, surprisingly, did not differ in most variables. Overall, the demonstrated linkages between purpose profiles, personal characteristics, parental support, and psychological adjustment have important implications for parents and adults who work with adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families may experience the negative impact of caring for a relative with a mental illness. With a growing number of Chinese people living in many countries, no recent review has been conducted to analyze the literature concerning the caregiving experience of Chinese families and possible family interventions to support them. A scoping review was conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles published in the last 10 years. A total of 48 articles were found describing the experience of caregiving and family interventions. The opportunities for social work to advance research and practice with Chinese families are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]