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We conduct an in-depth study on the model construction of deep neural networks and design a model of painter's psychology and anime creation style to realize the study of the relationship between painter's psychology and anime creation style based on deep neural networks. This paper proposes an animation creation psychology classification algorithm that integrates human cognitive deep network structure optimization. The algorithm analyzes the connection between different convolutional layer features and animation characteristics through animation creation style CNN feature visualization. It interactively uses the knowledge of animation creation psychology expression techniques to optimize the network structure. This paper proposes a scene animation network based on spectral difference perception style. By analyzing the characteristics and differences in the spectrum between realistic and anime domain images, the generator is guided to learn the mapping relationships better to fit the style distribution of anime domain images. This paper uses a fully convolutional structure; the network is more lightweight and supports image inputs of arbitrary size, which can keep the semantic system of the background unchanged while highly deforming the five facial features, moving toward the goal of human-scene fusion for the animation task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family's academic cognition influences the family's academic concept, rearing fashion, and academic participation. It is no longer solely associated to kid's bodily and intellectual development; however, additionally associated to household concord and social progress. With the development of the times, the complicated traits of training proceed to pose new challenges to parents. Exploring the composition and operation mechanism of family training decision-making cognition is envisioned to stop up the key to promote parents' orderly coaching participation and home university cooperation. However, the associated lookup of usual cognitive mannequin has terrible steadiness and prediction charge in focus results. This paper constructs a cognitive model of family training decision-making principally based totally on neural network. Through the assessment of relevant data, they have an effect of the cognitive model of family coaching decision-making mainly based totally on neural neighborhood evaluated from the accuracy, root suggest rectangular error RMSE, and AUC curve. The experimental effects exhibit that the prediction accuracy of the cognitive mannequin of household training decision-making primarily based on neural community is 15% greater than that of the standard model, and the cognitive balance of the mannequin is 8.2%. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness, feasibility, and practicability of the mannequin in realistic teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the modeling of a computer-aided piano music automatic notation algorithm, combines the influence of music on psychological detachment, and designs the piano music automatic notation algorithm in psychological detachment model construction. This paper investigates the multiresolution time-frequency representation constant Q-transform (CQT), which is common in music signal analysis, and finds that although CQT has higher frequency resolution at low frequencies, it also leads to lower temporal resolution. The variable Q-transform is introduced as a tool for multibasic frequency estimation of the time-frequency representation of music signals, which has better temporal resolution than CQT at the exact frequency resolution and efficient coefficient calculation. The short-time Fourier transform and constant Q-transform time-frequency analysis methods are implemented, respectively, and note onset detection and multibasic tone detection are implemented based on CNN models. The network structure, training method, and postprocessing method of CNN are optimized. This paper proposes a temporal structure model for maintaining music coherence to avoid manual input and ensure interdependence between tracks in music generation. This paper also investigates and implements a method for generating discrete music events based on multiple channels, including a multitrack correlation model and a discretization process. In this paper, the automatic piano music notation algorithm can play an influential role in significantly enhancing the actual effect of psychological detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jacques Lacan is a famous French psychoanalyst, but his influence has long gone beyond the scope of psychoanalysis and has affected almost all fields of "human science." Film and psychoanalysis coincided almost simultaneously and influenced each other. But with the development of film, researchers found that film studies in the period of classic film and film semiotics have come to an end. It has certain theoretical value to explore the construction of the subject and the mental model of the erotic film based on Lacan's desire theory. Method. The body in the film and video described in this paper includes both the material body as an aesthetic object and the spiritual body with aesthetic consciousness. The so-called artistic presentation of the body element means that the beauty of the body form displayed by the actor's body in the film video is perceived by the audience, and the desire to stare is captured by the audience, thereby completing the audience's entire body composed of eyes, body, and mind. The body is not only an aesthetic object but also an aesthetic subject, and the human cognitive system is not just a closed brain. Because the nervous system, body, and environment are constantly changing and interacting, true cognition is a unified system of all three. The main part of this paper uses Lacan's psychoanalytic theory to deeply analyze the relationship between the characters shown in the film. From the cognitive impairment of the self to the failure of communication between characters, the language of uncertainty entangled by desire is removed, and the behavior and facial expressions of the movie characters are used as the analysis basis to fully interpret the inner world of the characters. This includes love, hatred, pain, struggle, and many other contradictory emotions. In addition, this paper also analyzes the metaphor of the relationship between the characters from the perspective of semiotics and discusses the description of the relationship between the characters from the lens language from the perspective of cinematography. The special meaning conveyed by the recurring elements in the film is emphasized, and the correlation between the pictures is explained from the less mentioned photographic aspect of the film. Results/Discussion. Looking at Lacan's theory, the subject, the other, and desire are linked by the subject spirit, which is the core of the connection between the three, and only through the resistance and struggle of the subject spirit can the illusion of the subject be broken. Bewilderment and the suppression of the other and desire finally become the self. And the embodiment of this true self is particularly prominent in film art. Lacan's purpose is not merely to dissolve the subject but to seek a stand in the midst of destruction, pursuing the ultimate transcendence of man's desire for the external other and internal desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a platform framework for extensive data analysis of college students' psychological quality with the help of the thinking mode of big data and related technologies and proposes the construction principles, data sources, data processing methods, data platform construction, and platform application of big data analysis platform for college students' psychological quality assessment. This paper combines the application methods of big data technology, collects the management data related to the psychological quality assessment of college students, saves them into the system database with certain storage logic, and realizes the function of psychological quality assessment through the design of selected psychological quality assessment data, data management and data resource management and other parts based on the data results of extensive data analysis. This study provides some insights into the psychological quality assessment of college students. The strength of association between the variables of psychological quality assessment of college students changes over time, but the overall psychological structure is more stable. This stable psychological structure characteristic is conducive to constructing the policy of constant psychological education in large universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the theory of mental health education to conduct an in-depth study and analysis of teachers' educational management, and based on this, it designs a survey method on teachers' status and analyzes its strategic methods based on the results of the survey. Using literature analysis, questionnaires, survey interviews, and statistical analysis, the analysis of mental health of primary and secondary school teachers in the city was made. The results of the survey and analysis of the questionnaire results were used to construct a compatible mental health evaluation model. It was found that the overall level of elementary school teachers' mental health is poor at present, and different levels of mental health were presented with school sections and ages. A total of 286 questionnaires were distributed, 278 valid questionnaires were returned, and statistical analysis was conducted using EXCEL tables based on the collected data. The data analysis results show that the mental health level of teachers in middle school is significantly lower than that of teachers in primary school, and the mental health level of teachers in primary and secondary schools decreases with the increase of age. Therefore, to prevent the small and the gradual, start from the source; do a good job in the publicity of mental health education in peacetime; popularize the knowledge of mental health, so that teachers have a correct understanding of mental health education; improve the professional level of teachers; set up professional teachers in professional positions; establish sound job system and evaluation system, etc. Promote the balanced development of school psychological counseling rooms, strengthen the construction of professional teachers in mental health education, improve various systems of mental health education, comprehensively popularize teachers' mental health education and training, and mobilize teachers' enthusiasm for scientific research on mental health education. Improve the understanding of mental health education in colleges and universities, and regard mental health education as the foundation of all education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of this article is to present a short review of noninvasive, nonpharmacological treatment methods used in somatic illnesses that fall under the umbrella of approach called behavioral medicine. Methods. The narrative review method was applied in the study. Science paper databases, including PubMed, had been used to retrieve papers on therapeutic methods used in clinical setting that meet the broad criteria of behavioral medicine definition as stated in the Charter of International Behavioral Medicine Society Results. Main groups of methods, disorders in which they are being employed and their effectiveness, have been identified. Conclusions. Behavioral medicine is grouping treatment methods and interventions that hold large potential for clinical setting. Two groups of methods can be distinguished by the scrutiny and level of evidence gathered in their effectiveness assessment; for biofeedback, guided imagery, and hypnosis techniques, comprehensive evidence reports in the framework of U.S. Evidence Synthesis Program exist. Meditation techniques, disclosure therapies, and relaxation methods are less well assessed. Broader employment of behavioral medicine therapies in clinical setting is possible after addressing two major problems in the field, which are deficiencies in quality evidence of effectiveness for many of the methods and their insufficiencies in underlying therapeutic mechanism knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In "Lord of the Flies," William Golding integrates the living conditions of human beings into the relationship of the community of destiny between man and nature and reveals the neglect of ecological morality in the modern Western ethical value system with modernity as the core, showing a postmodern ecological ethics consciousness beyond modernity. The novel embodies the ecological integrity of the nonbinary opposition between man and nature, criticizes anthropocentrism and technological rationality that destroy the ecological integrity, and points out that modern science and technology have led to greater ecological disasters due to the lack of ecological ethics. Ecological morality that respects nature and the harmonious coexistence of man and nature is advocated. The forward-looking ecological ethics consciousness contained in the novel is especially thought-provoking in today's serious ecological problems and lack of ecological ethics. This paper will use ecological psychology as a new interdisciplinary research field to study the relationship between man and nature and open up new horizons and research methods. In this way, we will solve the growing ecological and environmental crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance is a term used by healthcare professionals regarding patients' psychosocial adjustment to chronic conditions. This paper describes a triangulation approach, applied over 25 years, to develop and evaluate a theory of adolescent acceptance of asthma. The theory was used to guide the development and evaluation of an education and counseling program focused on fostering acceptance. The approach was effective in (a) defining acceptance and isolating its attributes; (b) identifying its antecedents and consequences, and specifying relationships among them; (c) revealing overlooked variables and augmenting theory; and (d) using theory to guide development and evaluation of the self‐management program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults are increasingly a target for cyber‐attacks; however, very little research has investigated how they feel about engaging in protective cyber‐security behaviors. We developed and applied a novel card‐sorting task to elicit how older adults feel about protective cyber‐security behaviors and to identify the factors that impact their confidence in executing these behaviors. Nineteen task‐assisted interviews were conducted with UK older adults. A thematic analysis revealed that older adults see protective online behaviors as important, but their reasons for disengagement fell into three categories: I do not want to (essentially, because the costs outweigh the benefits), I do not need to (e.g. because it is not my responsibility), and I am unable to (which includes heightened anxiety about doing something wrong). Underlying confidence around engagement with protective behaviors was a function of three factors: personal competence (related to good computer self‐efficacy and relevant past experience), support (having a good network for information and advice), and demand (the effort of keeping up to date with the latest advice). Ultimately, we found that older adults are keen to protect themselves but are lacking appropriate support and we discuss implications for developers, researchers, and policy makers. This paper explores older adults' perceptions of common cyber‐security behaviors. We introduce an effective card sorting methodology for security elicitation in older adults. We apply this to identify reasons as to why older adults may not engage in security behaviors as well as identifying a number of reasons why older adults actively avoid engaging in security behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Personality disorders are common mental health disorders, with an estimated lifetime prevalence of 4 to 15%. People living with personality disorders are extensively seeking mental health services, yet few papers focus on their unique occupational needs or effective rehabilitation interventions that may alleviate the occupational issues they face. Occupational therapists are encouraged to support engagement in socially valued occupations, while preventing engagement in damaging ones, despite a lack of evidence on the meaning and the lived experiences of people. Objectives. This paper describes the meaning attributed by people living with personality disorders to their main occupations and the underlying needs they strive to fulfill through occupational engagement, whether or not these occupations are sanctioned. Methods. This exploratory study rests on a descriptive interpretative methodology. The participants were ten men and women, aged between 18 and 35 years old and living with a Cluster B personality disorder. A semistructured interview guide allowed participants to build narratives on occupations that are important to them and discuss how these occupations shape their identity. A thematic content analysis fostered the development of a coding structure that reflected a first-account perspective. Results. The narratives provided by the participants depict a variety of meaningful occupations, many of which are socially disapproved. Many of these occupations serve as a coping strategy to deal with distressing situations, to connect with others who share similar life experiences, or to reestablish a fragile sense of control. Other occupations are socially disapproved due to the overinvestment of the participants' commitment. While participants described how this overinvestment allowed them to control destructive impulses, significant others perceived it as counterproductive and unnecessary. Participants perceived self-care occupations as painful and tedious chores or meaningless occupations. Engaging in productive occupations allowed some participants to gain recognition or to identify their competencies, but also confirmed their differences, creating some form of alienation or marginalisation. Conclusion. This exploratory study invites clinicians and researchers to develop a more responsive understanding of occupational engagement for this population. The results highlight the importance of situating occupations in their context, while endorsing a first-account perspective, to better understand the forces that shape occupational engagement. Ultimately, occupational therapists should critically appraise their assumptions around healthy and unsanctioned occupations, in order to respond with sensitivity to the needs and experience of their clients, without perpetuating the marginalisation and discrimination they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Despite substantial progress in the treatment of hepatitis C through the use of direct-acting antivirals which have been shown to cure the disease, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are popular among patients as a substitute or complement of allopathic medicines. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of patients and CAM practitioners on the use of CAM for the treatment of hepatitis C in Pakistan. Methods. A cross-sectional design was adopted. Participants (CAM practitioners and patients) were recruited from the capital and two provinces: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab of Pakistan. A survey using paper-based questionnaires, each specific for patients and CAM practitioners, was conducted to gather information pertaining to demography, disease status, treatment history, and participants' perspectives (about the disease, reasons to switch to CAM, and referring source). Results. A total of 417 respondents (n = 284 patients, n = 133 practitioners) were recruited. Of the total patients, 170 (59.9%) had started CAM during the previous three months. There were 168 (59.2%) of the total patients who had used allopathic treatments for hepatitis C prior to their use of CAM. The confidence in CAM (24.6%), high cost (19%), and unbearable side effects (52.1%) of allopathic medicines were the main reasons to switch to CAM treatment. Majority (49.3%) of the patients were referred to CAM on the recommendations of relatives or care givers (17.3%) whereas only 9.5% were referred by health care professionals. Out of 133 practitioners, 48 (36.1%) were practicing herbal medicines. From practitioners' perspectives, club-moss (Lycopodium clavatum) was the best treatment option for hepatitis C. The majority, 73 (54.9%), of the patients had chosen to use CAM because of the side effects of allopathic medicines. Patients who had previous "good experience" with CAM were the most common referral source (56.4%) for CAM use in hepatitis C. Conclusions. Patients' beliefs in CAM, side effects of allopathic therapy, high cost of allopathic medicines, and referrals from previous CAM users are key factors in the switching of hepatitis C patients to CAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network crisis information diffusion will have a certain impact on the public’s psychology and behavior and will cause harm to the normal operation social of the public system and the effective allocation of the public resources. So we should timely control the key factors which affect the diffusion process to reduce the damage. Using cellular automata theory, the paper views the public as a series of cellular automata and sets up some cellular state evolution rules. With the help of MATLAB simulated evolution, this paper explores the diffusion rule of crisis information diffusion process and finds out the key factors of crisis information diffusion process and its influence on the diffusion scale and effect, so as to put forward coping strategies. It is hoped that this paper provides reference for the theoretical study of the crisis information diffusion and provides suggestion for the real world to control the crisis information diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing visits to emergency departments add strain to public healthcare systems. The misperception of symptoms' severity can partly explain inappropriate use of hospitals' emergency departments by non‐urgent patients. This paper focuses on the misperception of symptoms' severity as a cause for the inappropriate use of emergency departments. It explores the role that informing potential patients of the correct severity level can play in correcting this inefficiency. We implement in an incentivised manner an exploratory economic experiment to elicit the degree of severity of five sets of symptoms, corresponding to frequent causes of emergency department visits. The study was setup in Braga, Northern Portugal, recruiting voluntary participants through civic local organisations. We ask participants to indicate the more suitable health service, before and after revealing the true degree of severity. Results show that there is an overestimation of the degree of severity of some clinical profiles, and when confronted with the real severity, in only half of the cases are choices changed to other health services. Although exploratory, this study provides insights into the potential role of health education policies concerning symptoms' severity but it also highlights the limits of such policies. Furthermore, the use of economic experiments can provide meaningful insights for the design of policies addressing demand‐side healthcare inefficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of mental capacity in relation to breast screening for women with intellectual disabilities in the UK. Participation in breast screening is considerably lower for women with intellectual disabilities compared to the general population. Barriers to screening include poor mobility and behavioural difficulties. There is currently no research which primarily explores the relationship between mental capacity and breast screening for this group of individuals. This paper presents the results of a cross‐sectional survey of 131 women with intellectual disabilities supported by eight Social Care Providers within England and Wales. The data were collected between January 2017 and July 2017. The current research explores the decision‐making process surrounding breast screening, considering the impact of associated risk factors during this process. Participants completed a specifically created survey addressing the aforementioned issues. The results indicated that women who lacked capacity, were less likely to engage in breast screening. It was also demonstrated that the process outlined in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA; 2005) was not always followed; women were not routinely assessed if there were doubts regarding their decision‐making ability around breast screening and best interest meetings (BIM) were not always held if the person lacked capacity. In order to be able to generalise the current findings, further research is needed to gain a broader understanding of how professionals make decisions around breast screening for women with intellectual disabilities in case the individuals are unable to decide this independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of social capital shows great promise for its potential to influence individual and population health. Yet challenges persist in defining and measuring social capital, and little is known about the mechanisms that link social capital and health. This paper reports on the quantitative phase of a sequential explanatory mixed methods study using data from Canada's 2013 General Social Survey (data collected 2013–14). An exploratory factor analysis revealed six underlying dimensions of social capital for 7,187 adults living in Ontario, Canada. These factors included trust in people, neighbourhood social capital, trust in institutions, sense of belonging, civic engagement, and social network size. A logistic regression indicated that having high Trust in People and Trust in Institutions were associated with better mental health while high Trust in Institutions, Sense of Belonging, and Civic Engagement were associated with better physical health. When comparing rural and urban residents, there were no differences in their self‐reported health, nor did social capital influence their health any differently, despite rural residents having higher social capital scores. The study findings are important for understanding the nature of social capital and how it influences health, and provide direction for targeted health promotion strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review discussed in this paper provides a unique synthesis of evidence and knowledge about carers. The authors adopted a scoping review methodology drawing on a wide range of material from many different sources published between 2000 and 2016. It offers key insights into what we know and how we know it; reinforces and expands evidence about carers' profile; shows knowledge is uneven, e.g. much is known about working carers, young carers and carers of people with dementia but far less is about older carers or caring for someone with multiple needs. A striking feature of much research is a focus on caring as a set of tasks, rather than a dimension of an, often dyadic, relationship. While there is substantive evidence about the negative impact of caring, the review suggests that links between caring and carer outcomes are neither linear nor inevitable and vary in depth and nature. A reliance on cross‐sectional studies using standardised measures is a major weakness of existing research: this approach fails to capture the multidimensionality of the caring role, and the lived experience of the carer. Although research relating to formal support suggests that specific interventions for particular groups of carers may be effective, overall the evidence base is weak. There is a tension between cost‐effectiveness and what is valued by carers. Developing robust evaluative models that accommodate this tension, and take account of the dyadic context of caring is a critical challenge. A fundamental deficit of carer‐related research is its location in one of two, largely separate, paradigmatic frameworks: the "Gatherers and Evaluators" and the "Conceptualisers and Theorisers." The authors suggest that developing an integrated paradigm that draws on the strengths and methods of existing paradigms, has considerable potential to generate new knowledge and new evidence and extend understanding of care and caring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The efficacy of many cognitive behavioral component interventions has not been examined, with worry outcome monitoring among them.Methods: To address this issue, 51 participants with clinical levels of generalized anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to a treatment or control condition for 10 days. The treatment condition consisted of a brief ecological momentary intervention termed the Worry Outcome Journal (WOJ). WOJ participants recorded worries and tracked their outcomes, rating worry distress, interference, and expected outcome probabilities. Thought log (TL) control participants completed a record of their everyday thoughts and rated associated distress. All participants made four entries on paper each day when randomly prompted by text message. They then entered their paper contents online each night. After 30 days they reviewed their contents electronically and completed follow-up measures.Results: Primary results revealed significant reductions in worry for WOJ users compared to TL users at postintervention. A marginally significant difference was found at 20-day follow-up and treatment gains were maintained. Secondary analyses showed no harmful increases in worry beliefs for WOJ users, as well as preliminary evidence for decreases in beliefs about the uncontrollability of thoughts in both groups.Conclusion: The WOJ may be a viable therapist-independent treatment for reducing worry, even after only 10 days of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper provides insight into an emerging research discipline called Psychoinformatics. In the context of Psychoinformatics, we emphasize the cooperation between the disciplines of psychology and computer science in handling large data sets derived from heavily used devices, such as smartphones or online social network sites, in order to shed light on a large number of psychological traits, including personality and mood. New challenges await psychologists in light of the resulting “Big Data” sets, because classic psychological methods will only in part be able to analyze this data derived from ubiquitous mobile devices, as well as other everyday technologies. As a consequence, psychologists must enrich their scientific methods through the inclusion of methods from informatics. The paper provides a brief review of one area of this research field, dealing mainly with social networks and smartphones. Moreover, we highlight how data derived from Psychoinformatics can be combined in a meaningful way with data from human neuroscience. We close the paper with some observations of areas for future research and problems that require consideration within this new discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper has attempted to explore views of patients with severe mental illness and their care providers about sharing sexual problems with care providers in these patients within the context of Iran. Method: A total of 17 in‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted in one of the psychiatric hospital in Tehran: 4 with patients, 2 with patient's family, and 11 with health providers who had been employed for 5 years in psychiatric wards at least. All participants were selected by purposive sampling. Using conventional qualitative content analysis data reduction was done. Findings: A total of 89 codes about the reasons for lack of communication between clinician and patients, about sexuality were extracted. These are classified in two categories. The first is "Clinicians avoidance from addressing sexual issues" and second is "Patients avoidance from expressing their sexual problems." Conclusion: Despite having sexual needs, severe mental illnesses patients do not disclose it due to poor communication between clinician and patients, about sexuality. So, physician had to be pioneer in communicating with them. Therefore, to enhance clinicians' sexual knowledge and effective communication skills with patients, especially those with severe mental illnesses, training is completely necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better sustain passengers’ loyalty towards bus service, this paper addressed the modeling of the public transit loyalty by the use of structural equation model. As a novel hypothesis, the emotional value was considered to have effects on the perceived value of bus services in this study, which reflected the degree of passengers’ emotional dependence on the public transit. Specifically, in order to better assess the loyalty, seven unobserved variables were measured to construct the structural model, namely, “service guarantee,” “operational services and efficiency,” “emotional value,” “perceived value,” “expectation,” “satisfaction,” and “loyalty.” The goodness-of-fit of the model was estimated and evaluated by using the survey data harvested from Xiamen, China. Besides, the index score of variables was also computed to help determine targeted approaches to better improve the level of bus service. The results indicated that the time cost and the monetary cost actually had no effects on the perceived value of users in the case study. At the same time, however, it also proved that passengers’ emotional value towards the public transit indeed affected passengers’ perception of the service value. In addition, whether users’ perceived value was as expected determined how much passengers satisfied with the service. Regarding the index score of variables, it indicated a great dissatisfaction of passengers towards the current bus service. Unexpectedly, the score of loyalty even still retained a relatively high level, which reflected continue-to-use willingness of passengers. It implied that being subject to economic conditions and other factors, passengers were captive and had to continue relying on the public transit, in spite of their dissatisfaction. As for the improvement direction of bus services, targeted approaches should be determined to improve the quality of bus service, regarding the aspects of “condition of facilities in the bus,” “driving stability and comfort,” “vehicle speed,” and “safety.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Recently, increased interest has been shown in Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities of individuals with severe acquired brain injury (sABI). ToM impairment following sABI can be associated with altered executive functioning and/or with difficulty in decoding and elaborating emotions. Two main theoretical models have been proposed to explain the mechanisms underlying ToM in the general population: Theory Theory and Simulation Theory. This review presents and discusses the literature on ToM abilities in individuals with sABI by examining whether they sustain the applicability of the Theory Theory and/or Simulation Theory to account for ToM deficits in this clinical population. We found 32 papers that are directly aimed at investigating ToM in sABI. Results did not show the univocal predominance of one model with respect to the other in explaining ToM deficits in sABI. We hypothesised that ToM processes could be explained by coinvolvement of the two models, i.e., according to personal experience, cognitive features, or the emotional resources of the persons with sABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Increasingly men are becoming widowed in later life due in part to a longer life expectancy. Social networks and social support are thought to help buffer the negative consequences of such later life transitions. This paper explores the personal communities of a group of older men experiencing widowhood. Qualitative in‐depth interviews were conducted, September 2013–February 2014, with seven older widowers, 71–89 years of age, in North Staffordshire, UK. Interviews included personal community diagrams to identify the structure of the older men's social relationships. Data analysis comprised thematic analysis of interview transcripts and content analysis of personal community diagrams. Three overarching themes were identified from the interview data: “Personal identity and resilience assist transition,” “Continuity in personal communities provides stability” and “Changes in social relationships and practices facilitate adaptation.” The study identified three types of personal community among the older widowers, comprising different combinations of family, friends and others. The findings illustrate that some older widowers have very restricted personal communities which puts them at greater risk of loneliness and social isolation. The social needs of long‐term carers should be addressed as isolation and loneliness can begin long before the death of a spouse. It is important to consider gender differences and preferences when designing interventions for older people in order to promote engagement, social inclusion and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: While the experiences of family members supporting a person with a terminal illness are well documented, less is known about the needs of carers of people with neurological diseases, in particular, Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This paper describes the qualitative data from a large Australian survey of family carers of people with MND, to ascertain their experiences of receiving the diagnosis. The aim of the study was to describe the experiences of family carers of people with MND in receiving the diagnosis in order to inform and improve ways in which the diagnosis is communicated. Anonymous postal surveys were sent to people with MND in Australia and their family carers respectively. The perceived ability/skills of neurologists was assessed using a five‐point scale from excellent to poor. Attributes of communication of bad news was measured by the SPIKES protocol. Each survey question invited further written responses. Eight hundred and sixty‐four questionnaires were posted to people with MND and their family carers, with assistance from MND associations. One hundred and ninety‐six family carers submitted responses, of which 171 (88%) were patient‐carer dyads. Analyses were conducted on 190 family carers. Five themes emerged from reading and re‐reading written responses: frustrations with the diagnosis; giving information; family carer observations of the neurologist; the setting; and what would have made the diagnosis easier? The delivery of the diagnosis is a pivotal event in the MND trajectory. Satisfaction for patients and their family carers is related to the neurologists showing empathy and responding appropriately to their emotions, exhibiting knowledge and providing longer consultations. Neurologists may benefit from education and training in communication skills to adequately respond to patients’ and families’ emotions and development of best practice protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian chiropractic and osteopathic professions underwent a period of significant transformation between 1960 and 2000. This resulted in an improvement in the views held by themedical profession towards the two professions.However, a recent survey of Australian general practitioners (GPs) reported that a number of GPs still hold negative views towards chiropractors and osteopaths. This paper examines these views fromthe perspective of critical realism and explores the generativemechanisms that can influence the willingness of health practitioners to collaborate over patient care. A qualitative analysis of open-ended responses to a survey of 630 Australian GPs was conducted. Unfavourable attitudes of GPs towards chiropractors and osteopaths included perceived lack of safety, efficacy, and inadequacy of training, despite chiropractic's and osteopathy's reliance on the same evidence base and similar training to those of othermanual therapy professions such as physiotherapy.These attitudesmay be underpinned by the professional biases against chiropractic and osteopathy that continue to marginalise the professions within the Australian healthcare system. Continued investment in the research base for chiropractic and osteopathic practice is required, along with raising the awareness of GPs about the education and skills of chiropractors and osteopaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students in health care professions, including occupational therapy, are required to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes in mental health and research. Persons diagnosed with a mental illness, a learning disability or an autism-spectrum disorder desire to achieve goals in higher education and employment. Faculty in health care programmes strives to meet professional goals and accreditation and institution requirements for teaching, service and scholarship. The Bridge Program, a programme based on principles of community engagement, was developed to meet the needs of these three stakeholders. The objective of this paper is to provide programme description and outcomes of the effectiveness of the Bridge Program for all three stakeholders. This uses mixed methods research design including descriptive and quantitative and qualitative one-group pre-test-post-test designs. Instruments consisted of the Occupational Therapy Student and Mental Health Population Scale and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Quantitative results support that graduate occupational therapy students gained research and clinical skills ( n = 100; p = .000); clients increased performance and satisfaction toward goals ( n = 113; p = .000) and faculty ( n = 1) achieved goals related to teaching, service and scholarship. Programmes based on principles of community engagement can address the needs of the community, can provide outcomes that advance knowledge about community practice and can result in benefits for all stakeholders. This paper is limited to generalization and instrumentation and recommends an ongoing evaluation of other community engagement programmes involving all stakeholders in the future research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on data collected in 2011 from a national study about the operation of the best interests principle, a key feature of the Mental Capacity Act ( MCA) 2005 for England and Wales. The objective was to provide a picture of current professional practices in best interests decision-making. Four contrasting sample sites were selected, in which National Health Service trusts, social care and other organisations were recruited to participate. A multimethod design was followed, including an online survey with 385 participants, followed by qualitative research through a telephone survey of 68 participants, and face-to-face semi-structured interviews following up 25 best interests cases, with different perspectives on the process in 12 of those cases. The current paper reports only on the qualitative findings. The findings indicate that the MCA was successful in providing a structure for these practitioners, and that the five principles of the MCA were in general adhered to. A variety of perceived risks led to best interests processes being undertaken, and a typical scenario was for a period of hospitalisation or ill health to trigger a best interests decision process about a social care and or a life decision. The study supported previous research in finding the notion of capacity the most difficult aspect of the MCA, and it provides evidence of some specific capacity assessment practices, including problematic ones relating to 'insight'. Best interests decisions were often made by consensus, with practitioners taking on different roles within the process. Meetings played a key part, but other ways of involving people lacking capacity and significant others were also important. It was recommended that the issues highlighted in this research could be clarified further in the Code of Practice, or within risk guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE To explore the experiences of mental health workers and perceptions of their role and the scope of their work. DESIGN AND METHODS Qualitative design. Twenty interviews were conducted with mental health workers. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS Three overarching themes were identified. In this paper the overarching theme of 'dimensions of my role' is discussed. Subthemes were (a) information and education, (b) person-centered care, and (c) networking and partnerships. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Professional development, networking, and partnerships underpin the provision of coordinated services and ultimately person-centered care. Enhancing staff capacity building may also enable sustainability of appropriate quality services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the micro/mesomechanical behaviors of heterogeneous geomaterials, a multiscale simulation method that combines molecular simulation at the microscale, a mesoscale analysis of polished slices, and finite element numerical simulation is proposed. By processing the mesostructure images obtained from analyzing the polished slices of heterogeneous geomaterials and mapping them onto finite element meshes, a numerical model that more accurately reflects the mesostructures of heterogeneous geomaterials was established by combining the results with the microscale mechanical properties of geomaterials obtained from the molecular simulation. This model was then used to analyze the mechanical behaviors of heterogeneous materials. Because kernstone is a typical heterogeneous material that comprises many types of mineral crystals, it was used for the micro/mesoscale mechanical behavior analysis in this paper using the proposed method. The results suggest that the proposed method can be used to accurately and effectively study the mechanical behaviors of heterogeneous geomaterials at the micro/mesoscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the role of 'social support' in the experience of fibromyalgia (a musculoskeletal pain disorder) in South Africa. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect narratives from 15 participants. Sources of social support constitute important mechanisms for coping with the illness experience of fibromyalgia. In providing a space for consultation and validation of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and the person living with the condition, people giving support fulfil a critical role in shaping the experience. The findings show how support from family, partners, and peers plays an integral role in the process of accepting fibromyalgia diagnosis, adapting to the demands of the condition, and seeking help from healthcare providers. The findings also show the ways in which people with fibromyalgia provide support for others with the condition, and the importance of this peer network in shaping the paths and outcomes of this illness experience. The findings of this study corroborate existing evidence that show fibromyalgia to be a complex condition to manage, due to the multiplicity, uncertainty and contestation that feature in the experience of the illness. Additionally, this study presents the challenges related to the limitations of access to healthcare in the South African context, and the utility of narrative approaches in garnering insight into the ways in which social support is harnessed in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare policies often state that complex conditions are to be treated outside hospital in various forms of public-private partnership. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) is a progressive illness that includes episodes of serious acute exacerbations characterised by extreme breathlessness. There is limited knowledge about COPD exacerbations from the perspective of family caregivers and implications of the changing boundary between hospital care and care at home. In this paper, we explore how caregivers negotiate their role as caregivers with patients and healthcare professionals during acute exacerbations. We conducted 10 qualitative interviews with family caregivers of COPD patients in 2011, all were spouses over the age of 60. The participants were recruited through the patient pool of ambulatory pulmonary services of two hospitals in Oslo, Norway. Data were interpreted using thematic analysis. The caregivers described a lack of understanding and support from health professionals in some situations. They shouldered considerable responsibility, but were not always acknowledged as competent carers by professionals. Caregivers had to balance their involvement. They noted that they could lose the professionals' co-operation if their involvement was perceived as interfering or preventing the professionals from exercising their expertise. However, by not sharing their personalised knowledge about the patients, they risked that the professionals would not understand the severity of the exacerbation, which could undermine their own ability to maintain a sense of safety and control. The negotiations caregivers participated in and the uncertainty they experienced shed new light on the complexity of their role, and the discrepancy between practice and ideals in healthcare policy regarding collaboration of care. It is crucial to develop further knowledge about structural, interactional and communicational facilitators and barriers for reaching shared understandings and facilitating mutual trust in these demanding situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement of community members to act as peer workers is a key feature of many community-centred health promotion programmes. However, little is known about their experiences beyond the commonly reported themes of fulfilment through helping people in need and improvement of personal confidence, self-esteem and self-care. This gap in the literature is of particular interest given increasing involvement of peer workers in community-centred programmes addressing health disparities, such as uptake of cancer screening. This paper aims to explore experiences of the peer leaders who worked for the Cancer Awareness: Ready for Education and Screening ( CARES) project to promote awareness, knowledge, and uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening among under-/never-screened women who belonged to ethnic minority, recent immigrant and low-income communities in Toronto, Canada. In 2013, three focus groups were conducted with 14 peer leaders to explore their experiences. All were immigrant women between 30 and 50 years of age. All discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used situational maps and analysis to create a visual representation of the data, and to investigate peer leaders experiences. Situational analysis was chosen to bring to light dominant and also silent underlying aspects which define the meaning of being a peer leader. The first level of analysis identified main themes that characterised peer leaders' experience: (i) Helping others (women, friends and family) and themselves by improved self-confidence, self-awareness and self-care and (ii) Redefining professional and social positions through their project activities leading to professional development and networking. The second level of analysis explored the redefining process and identified some peer leaders' negotiations in relation to knowledge (science vs. myth), beliefs (fear vs. assurance) and boundaries (private vs. work). Adding to the literature on the peer workers' experience, the findings are discussed in relation to empowerment of peer workers, training implications and theoretical contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in surgical treatments and the availability of more conservative treatment options, women treated for vulval cancer still experience significant complications such as urinary incontinence, lymphoedema, pruritus, sexual and intimacy issues. These issues can profoundly impact a woman's quality of life. The subjective experience of women diagnosed and treated for vulval cancer in the literature is limited, possibly due to its comparable rarity to other gynaecological and female cancers and because it was traditionally seen mainly in the elderly female population. Nonetheless, younger women are also being diagnosed with vulval cancer. This paper reports the findings from a qualitative study about twelve women's experiences with vulval cancer from diagnosis, through treatment and recovery. Women's feelings of isolation, their unmet information and support needs, physical concerns arising from vulval cancer, particularly after surgery, and the consequences for their body image and intimate relationships with partners, were highlighted within the data. The central findings from this study emphasise the need for further research to develop appropriate interventions for women with vulval cancer. It also highlights opportunities to improve clinical practice into the supportive care of women with this isolating disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more patients with metastatic breast cancer ( MBC) living longer, patient-centered communication and shared decision making between patient and oncologist are vital to improve care and quality of life in patients with MBC. The Make Your Dialogue Count survey explored emotional needs of patients at initial diagnosis of MBC and treatment change to increase awareness about gaps and facilitate communication between patients and oncologists. The survey was conducted (June-August 2014) online, by telephone, or on paper among US women with MBC and US-licensed medical oncologists. Patient data were unweighted. Oncologist data were weighted by geographic region and years in practice by sex to match actual proportions in the population. Statistically significant differences between groups were determined by standard t-test of column proportions and means at the 95% confidence level. Between initial diagnosis of MBC and treatment change, some patients' attitudes and feelings adapted as their disease advanced. Fewer patients reported fear of the unknown (58% versus 44%) and distress over believing something could have been done to prevent disease progression (26% versus 12%), but more patients reported hope of keeping the disease stable (46% versus 59%) and confidence in treatment options (29% versus 37%). During their treatment journey, more women with children ≤17 years old were distressed because they believed something could have been done to prevent disease progression versus women with children 18+ years old or no children. There were instances of misalignment between patient expectations and what oncologists actually discussed with patients. Our findings suggest that patients exhibit an ability to adapt during their disease. Having a shared understanding of concerns and needs of patients serves to strengthen the patient-oncologist alliance and creates a framework for oncologists to tailor disease management and coping strategies to improve quality of life for patients of all ages with MBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research investigating the psychological difficulties experienced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is dominated by individualistic neurobiological and psychological perspectives. Therefore, this opinion paper draws on a reformulation of the social model of disability, Thomas' (1999) and (2007) social relational approach to disablism, to offer an alternative way of conceptualising psychological difficulties experienced by people with PD. This opinion paper explores the ways in which socially imposed restrictions and stigma may contribute to psychological difficulties by using Thomas' (2007) concept of psychoemotional disablism. By using the lens of psychoemotional disablism, this paper demonstrates that people with PD can be exposed to stigmatising attitudes and interactions which could contribute to restrictions, feelings of shame, and psychological difficulties such as depression. Accordingly, it is argued that further attention to the link between psychological difficulties and social dimensions of disablism in PD is needed in both research arenas and clinical practice to broaden understandings and interventions for people with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to discuss and explore the interrelation between two concepts, attachment theory and the concept of spirituality, which are important to palliative care and to founding a multivariate understanding of the patient's needs and challenges. Both concepts have been treated by research in diverse and multiform ways, but little effort has yet been made to integrate them into one theoretical framework in reference to the palliative context. In this paper, we begin an attempt to close this scientific gap theoretically. Following the lines of thought in this paper, we assume that spirituality can be conceptualized as an adequate response of a person's attachment pattern to the peculiarity of the palliative situation. Spirituality can be seen both as a recourse to securely based relationships and as an attempt to explore the ultimate unknown, the mystery of one's own death. Thus, spirituality in the palliative context corresponds to the task of attachment behavior: to transcend symbiosis while continuing bonds and thus to explore the unknown environment independently and without fear. Spiritual activity is interpreted as a human attachment behavior option that receives special quality and importance in the terminal stage of life. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed in the final section of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to understand how the public's beliefs in five countries may change as more families have direct experience with Alzheimer's disease. The data are derived from a questionnaire survey conducted by telephone (landline and cell) with 2678 randomly selected adults in France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the United States. The paper analyzes the beliefs and anticipated behavior of those in each country who report having had a family member with Alzheimer's disease versus those who do not. In one or more countries, differences were found between the two groups in their concern about getting Alzheimer's disease, knowledge that the disease is fatal, awareness of certain symptoms, and support for increased public spending. The results suggest that as more people have experience with a family member who has Alzheimer's disease, the public will generally become more concerned about Alzheimer's disease and more likely to recognize that Alzheimer's disease is a fatal disease. The findings suggest that other beliefs may only be affected if there are future major educational campaigns about the disease. The publics in individual countries, with differing cultures and health systems, are likely to respond in different ways as more families have experience with Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reviews pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder, emphasizing the relational basis of the disorder and highlighting the missing link between juvenile delinquency and trauma. The first part of the paper defines trauma and the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, noting child-specific features. The second part reviews the literature emphasizing the relational and attachment relevant nature of trauma. The third part explores psychological mechanisms for how attachment relations could affect trauma responses. Attachment relations (1) shape core schemas of the world, others, and the self and (2) foster emotional engagement or disengagement, both of which have been associated with traumatic responses. The most empirically supported pediatric trauma treatment, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), acknowledges the attachment figure's influence and includes treating and training the parent and conjoint child-parent discussion. The next section reviews the noteworthy link between juvenile delinquency and trauma history. More awareness of trauma and PTSD in children and adolescents is recommended to effectively address juvenile delinquency. The review ends with a few helpful points for practicing pediatricians regarding childhood trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BANNING M. (2011) European Journal of Cancer Care 20, 708-719 Employment and breast cancer: a meta-ethnography The purpose of this synthesis is to examine the qualitative evidence on the lived experience of breast cancer survivors in relation to return to work. An in-depth search of the literature was undertaken from 1999 until July 2010. Ten relevant papers emerged that reflected the aims of the synthesis. A meta-ethnographic approach was used to synthesise papers. Four concepts emerged that reflected the return to work, these included influencing factors, sickness absence, work ability and work-related problems and experiences of return to work. Further synthesis of concepts led to the development of four final interpretations. These included breast cancer and employment, treatment-induced physical impairment, employer comprehension of breast cancer and fear of work-related failure. These interpretations indicate that employers need to be educated on the work capabilities of cancer survivors post treatment. Improved support facilities are needed for cancer survivors which are supported by European employment legislation and guidance offered by company occupational health departments. Moreover, health care professionals could become more involved in the education of breast cancer patients with regard to the timing of returning to work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WARREN M. (2010) European Journal of Cancer Care 19, 564–574 Uncertainty, lack of control and emotional functioning in women with metastatic breast cancer: a review and secondary analysis of the literature using the critical appraisal technique A diagnosis of metastatic (or secondary) breast cancer is frequently more distressing than the diagnosis of a primary tumour since it indicates that the cancer is no longer curable. Relatively little is known, however, about women's experiences of this condition in comparison with those diagnosed with primary breast cancer. This paper therefore reports findings from a secondary analysis of the published literature on the topic using tools from the critical appraisal skills programme to identify and analyse appropriate papers, and the constant comparative method as a means of identifying any overarching or dominant themes emerging from the literature. Uncertainty, lack of control and poor emotional functioning emerged as the main themes affecting women with metastatic breast cancer. These are discussed in relation to their antecedents in the original studies and their implications for nursing care. The themes demonstrate that living with metastatic (or secondary) breast cancer is a multifaceted experience that is influenced by a large number of factors, many of which are under-researched in comparison with those affecting women diagnosed with primary disease. It is clear, however, that women affected by the condition need a great deal more support than they currently receive, and new services may be required to meet these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is understood that longevity and health are influenced by complex interactions among biological, psychological, and sociological factors, there is a general lack of understanding on how psychosocial factors impact longevity, health, and quality of life among the oldest old. One of the reasons for this paradox is that the amount of funded research on aging in the US is significantly larger in the biomedical compared to psychosocial domains. The goals of this paper are to highlight recent data to demonstrate the impact of four pertinent psychosocial domains on health and quality of life of the oldest old and supplement recommendations of the 2001 NIA Panel on Longevity for future research. The four domains highlighted in this paper are (1) demographics, life events, and personal history, (2) personality, (3) cognition, and (4) socioeconomic resources and support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DSM-5 distinguishes between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders. Paraphilias are defined as atypical, yet not necessarily disordered, sexual practices. Paraphilic disorders are instead diseases, which include distress, impairment in functioning, or entail risk of harm one’s self or others. Hence, DSM-5 new approach to paraphilias demedicalizes and destigmatizes unusual sexual behaviors, provided they are not distressing or detrimental to self or others. Asphyxiophilia, a dangerous and potentially deadly form of sexual masochism involving sexual arousal by oxygen deprivation, are clearly described as disorders. Although autoerotic asphyxia has been associated with estimated mortality rates ranging from 250 to 1000 deaths per year in the United States, in Italy, knowledge on this condition is very poor. Episodes of death caused by autoerotic asphyxia seem to be underestimated because it often can be confounded with suicide cases, particularly in the Italian context where family members of the victim often try to disguise autoerotic behaviors of the victims. The current paper provides a review on sexual masochism disorder with asphyxiophilia and discusses one specific case as an example to examine those conditions that may or may not influence the likelihood that death from autoerotic asphyxia be erroneously reported as suicide or accidental injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weight bias is a form of stigma with detrimental effects on the health and wellness of individuals with large bodies. Researchers from various disciplines have recognized weight bias as an important topic for public health and for professional practice. To date, researchers from various areas have approached weight bias from independent perspectives and from differing theoretical orientations. In this paper, we examined the similarities and differences between three perspectives (i.e., weight-centric, non-weight-centric (health-centric), and health at every size) used to understand weight bias and approach weight bias research with regard to (a) language about people with large bodies, (b) theoretical position, (c) identified consequences of weight bias, and (d) identified influences on weight-based social inequity. We suggest that, despite differences, each perspective acknowledges the negative influences that position weight as being within individual control and the negative consequences of weight bias. We call for recognition and discussion of weight bias as a social justice issue in order to change the discourse and professional practices extended towards individuals with large bodies. We advocate for an emphasis on social justice as a uniting framework for interdisciplinary research on weight bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to quickly and accurately analyze the complex behavior of cam-follower oblique-impact system, a mathematical model which can describe separation, impact, and contact was established in this paper. The transient impact hypothesis was extended, and the oblique collision model was established by considering the tangential slip. Moreau time-stepping method was employed to solve the linear complementarity problem which transformed by the oblique-impact equations. The simulation results show that the cam and follower kept permanent contact when the cam rotational speed was low. With the increase of the cam rotational speed, the cam and follower would be separated and then impact under the gravity action. The system performance shows very complex nonlinear characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disabled men have traditionally been seen as incomplete men or as entirely gender-less. Research which has looked at the intersection of disability and male gender has largely treated disabled men as a homogeneous group with little reference to, for example, impairment-related differences. The ongoing move towards self-directed, personalised social care in England suggests that support needs relating to gender may be taken more seriously. A qualitative study with 20 men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in England in 2013 explored the men's experiences of the organisation and delivery of social care as it pertained to their sense of being men. Our main finding was that social care in its broadest sense did little to support a positive sense of masculinity or male gender. More often than not the organisation and delivery of social care people de-gendered or emasculated many of the men who took part in the study. Our paper speaks to the need to explore impairment-specific issues for disabled men; to deliver a more person-centred approach to social care which recognises the importance of the social and sexual lives of disabled men; and to create ways in which men can support and empower each other to assert essential human rights relating to independence, dignity and liberty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to show how the variation of the EEG frontal cortical asymmetry is related to the general appreciation perceived during the observation of TV advertisements, in particular considering the influence of the gender and age on it. In particular, we investigated the influence of the gender on the perception of a car advertisement (Experiment 1) and the influence of the factor age on a chewing gum commercial (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 results showed statistically significant higher approach values for the men group throughout the commercial. Results from Experiment 2 showed significant lower values by older adults for the spot, containing scenes not very enjoyed by them. In both studies, there was no statistical significant difference in the scene relative to the product offering between the experimental populations, suggesting the absence in our study of a bias towards the specific product in the evaluated populations. These evidences state the importance of the creativity in advertising, in order to attract the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data placement is an important issue which aims at reducing the cost of internode data transfers in cloud especially for data-intensive applications, in order to improve the performance of the entire cloud system. This paper proposes an improved data placement algorithm for heterogeneous cloud environments. In the initialization phase, a data clustering algorithm based on data dependency clustering and recursive partitioning has been presented, and both the factor of data size and fixed position are incorporated. And then a heuristic tree-to-tree data placement strategy is advanced in order to make frequent data movements occur on high-bandwidth channels. Simulation results show that, compared with two classical strategies, this strategy can effectively reduce the amount of data transmission and its time consumption during execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of social care for older people has gained increasing attention from the part of academics, professionals, policy makers and media. However, we know little about this topic from the perspectives of older persons, which hinders future developments in terms of theory, empirical research, professional practice and social policy. This article presents and discusses a systematic review of relevant qualitative research-based evidence on the older persons' experiences and perspectives of receiving social care published between 1990 and September 2014. This review aimed to obtain answers to the following questions: How is the reception of social care experienced by the older persons? What are the negative and positive aspects of these experiences? What are the factors which influence the experiences? The synthesis of the findings of reviewed papers identified six analytical themes: asking for care as a major challenge; ambivalences; (dis)engagement in decisions concerning care; multiple losses as outcomes of receiving social care; multiple strategies to deal with losses originated by the ageing process; and properties of 'good care'. These themes are discussed from the point of view of their implications for theory, care practice and social policy, and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and young people frequently report physical complaints that have no observable physical pathology known as medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). Research suggests that MUS are associated with substantial physical and psychological impairments and may have a negative impact on children's and young people's functional status and well-being in the long term. Due to the potentially complex needs of this group, children and young people with MUS may require timely access to suitable health and social care services to effectively manage symptoms and achieve their academic, social and personal potential. Families and professionals can offer important insights into the availability and appropriateness of current community and specialist health and social care services. This review is the first critical evaluation and synthesis of research that has examined families' and healthcare professionals' (HCP) perceptions of healthcare services for children and young people with MUS. A systematic search of electronic databases and manual searches of key journals and reference lists identified 17 papers from 15 studies for inclusion in the review. The review highlights the paucity of rigorously conducted research on this topic. Studies have been narrowly focused on the views of a homogeneous group of mothers and young people attending single centres. There has been some attempt to examine doctors' views, but the perceptions of children, fathers and health and social care professionals are absent or under-represented, and multi-site and longitudinal studies are lacking. Thematic analysis of the results from the included studies suggests that knowledge, communication, health beliefs and healthcare settings are factors that influence families' and HCPs' perceptions of services. Families report dissatisfaction with some HCPs' approach to managing MUS. The findings suggest that children and young people with MUS are at risk of receiving suboptimal care and support because there is insufficient research to inform high-quality, evidence-based practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is strong evidence indicating that inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) is increasing among black and minority ethnic ( BME) communities. Despite this rise in prevalence, there is a paucity of research relating to ethnicity and IBD outside the USA. Furthermore, the symptoms of IBD are reported to start during childhood or adolescence in 20-25% of people with the condition. It is therefore important that young people's experiences of diagnosis, treatment and living with IBD are fully understood to ensure effective services and information provision. The study reported on in this paper was commissioned by a UK charity (Crohn's and Colitis UK) with the aim of increasing understanding of the specific issues and service needs of young people with IBD from BME communities. Empirical research entailed in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 young people from BME groups accessed through gastroenterology departments at three collaborating NHS hospitals in England serving ethnically diverse populations. Interviews were carried out from June to December 2010 and sought to capture young people's views with IBD. A thematic analysis of their experiences identified many commonalities with other young people with IBD, such as the problematic route to formal diagnosis and the impact of IBD on education. The young people also experienced tensions between effective self-management strategies and cultural norms and practices relating to food. Moreover, the ability of parents to provide support was hampered for some young people by the absence of culturally competent services that were responsive to the families' communication needs. The findings highlight the need for more culturally appropriate information concerning IBD, and improved responsiveness to young people with IBD within primary care and the education system, as well as culturally competent messaging relating to the specific nature of the condition among the wider South Asian and black communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]