Search

Increase of water quality in aquatic systems has become a hot button issue in recent decades. However, with the aim to implement an effective remediation strategy, the first step is to identify the sources of diffuse and point-source pollution using several tracers. In urban areas, B isotopes, Gd enrichment, Cl

Background Therapeutic Alliance is grounded in the robust concept of Working Alliance (Bordin, 1979). Large meta analyses (Horvath and Dianne, 1991; Martin et al, 2000) have identified it as a consistent predictor of psychotherapy outcome. Evidence suggests that ruptures in therapeutic alliance are common, under recognised, and not well managed including by experienced clinicians (Binder and Strupp, 1997). Teaching alliance-fostering techniques has been attempted (Muran and Barber, 2010), and it has been highlighted that it could benefit from the systematic training offered by simulation (Binder and Henry, 2010). Methods We designed a simulation course with a clear focus on therapeutic alliance processes, particularly on the recognition and management of alliance ruptures. Course impact was assessed by pre and post questionnaires on the intended learning outcomes, all focussing on therapeutic alliance ruptures and their management. The course was also assessed by evaluation forms filled-in at the end of the session by the participants with mixed quantitative and qualitative data. Lastly, a focus group was carried out with participants (n = 30) to gain a qualitative understanding of their experience of the course and areas of improvement. Findings Qualitative and qualitative data reflected that the course was a useful addition to existing training and a particularly interesting learning experience. A need to increase the challenges of the scenario and additional didactic teaching on alliance ruptures were highlighted as possible improvements. We concluded that a simulation course focusing on therapeutic alliance was an innovative way to enhance therapists’ skill in managing situations of alliance ruptures. It addresses an identified training need and was generally praised by participants to enhance their skills. References Bordin, ES. The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working ?alliance. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 1979;16:252–260. Horvath, AO, Dianne B. Relation between working alliance and outcome in ?psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. J Consult Clin Psychol 1991;38:139–149. Martin DJ, Garske JP, Davis MK. Relation of the therapeutic alliance with ?outcome and other variables: a meta-analytic review. J Consult Clin Psychol 2000;68:438–450. Binder JL, Strupp HH. 9Negative Process9: A Recurrently Discovered and Underestimated Facet of Therapeutic Process and Outcome in the Individual Psychotherapy of Adults. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 4 121–139 (1997). The Therapeutic Alliance: An Evidence-Based Guide to Practice. (Guilford Press, 2010).

Background The importance of carer and family involvement in healthcare in unquestionable, no less so in the field of mental health (Francis Report 2013,1 NHS England 2014c, HM Government’s Carers Strategy). Frameworks for this method of working are outlined in models such as the “Triangle of Care”. However, evidence suggests that healthcare professionals canhold negative beliefs about working with families and carers (Kim and Salyers,2). Simulation training has been suggested as an educational tool through which to address this issue (Kim et al,3 2016; DeCaporale-Ryan et al, 2016). This study aims to evaluate the clinical impact of simulation training on the involvement of families and carers in mental healthcare, using a qualitative methodology. Methods Training was interprofessionally designed, delivered, and received, with 6 scenarios using trained actors and AV technology, each followed by a debrief using training facilitators and the Diamond Debrief Model (Jaye et al, 2014). In contrast to the wealth of quantitative pre and post course assessments in the literature, and in keeping with the training’s systemic ethos, a qualitative methodology was utilised. Participants (n = 10) were invited to take part in individual 1-hour semi-structure interviews. The interview schedule was designed by researchers and clinicians to capture rich data addressing the research question. Resultant data underwent thematic analysis; involving familiarisation with the data, coding, identification of themes, and assimilation of the researchers efforts (Green and Thorogood, 2004). Findings Full thematic analyses have not been completed at the time of writing, although preliminary findings are available. These suggest an impact to clinical practice following the course, relating to carer focused interventions, attitudes towards carer and family involvement, and the structure of family assessments. Full findings will be presented at ASPiH 2016. References Jaye P, Thomas L, Reedy G. ’The Diamond‘: a structure for simulation debrief. Clin Teach. 2015;12:171–5. Kim HW, Salyers MP. Attitudes and perceived barriers to working with families of persons with severe mental health problems: Mental health professionals‘ perspectives. Community Ment Health J. 2008;44:337–45. Kaas MJ, Lee S, Peitzman C. Barriers to collaboration between mental health professionals and families in the care of persons with serious mental health problems. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2003;24:741–56.

An extensive diagenetic study carried out on a sediment core collected in the Cumbrian mud patch off the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, is presented. Sequential leaching data, using a thoroughly validated protocol specifically designed to prevent any resorption of the released plutonium in the course of the extraction, demonstrate that a significant proportion of the plutonium is loosely bound to sites that readily exchange with seawater, oxidise upon oxygenated water contact (reactive sulphides) or easily dissolve upon changes in pH. Such a result contradicts many previous sequential extraction studies which have reported that little of the plutonium in Irish Sea sediments is in a readily available form. The profile of dissolved plutonium in pore waters indicates an active uptake process at depth, probably linked to sulphide (Acid Volatile Sulphide) precipitation. These reactive sulphides are liable to act as source of plutonium to the overlying water if they are brought close the interface by bioturbation or in contact with oxygenated seawater by burrowing activity.

The genus Trichosporon was revised using characters of morphology, ultrastructure, physiology, ubiquinone systems, mol% G + C of DNA, DNA/DNA reassociations and 26S ribosomal RNA partial sequences. A total of 101 strains was used, including all available type and authentic cultures of previously described taxa. Nineteen taxa could be distinguished, 15 of which having Q-9 coenzyme systems and 4 having Q-10. Sixteen previously described names were reduced to synonymy. One new species was described. The genus is characterized by the presence of arthroconidia. Few species possess further diagnostic morphological characters, such as the presence of appressoria, macroconidia or meristematic conidiation. The septa of two species were found to be non-perforate, while those of the remaining species contained dolipores at variable degrees of differentiation, with or without vesicular or tubular parenthesomes. All species were able to assimilate a large number of carbon compounds; visible CO2 production was absent. The genus was found to be fairly homogeneous on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of partial 26S rRNA sequences, with the exception of T. pullulans which proved to be unrelated. Most taxa were found to occupy well-defined ecological niches. Within the group of taxa isolated from humans, a distinction could be made between those involved in systemic mycoses and those which mainly caused pubic or non-pubic white piedras, respectively. One species was consistently associated with animals, while others came mainly from soil or water. One species was mesophilic and another psychrophilic.

A sequential extraction protocol has been used to determine the solid-phase partition of 210Po and 210Pb in anoxic marine sediment from the roads of Cherbourg (France) in the central English Channel. Measurements were also obtained in pore waters, in which 210Po activities range between 1 and 20 mBq L-1 and 210Pb activities between 2.4 and 3.8 mBq L-1, with highest activities in the topmost layer. These activities are higher than in seawater, suggesting that sediment act as a source of both 210Po and 210Pb for overlying water. The 210Po profile in the pore waters is apparently correlated with those obtained for Fe, Mn and SO42-, suggesting an influence of early diagenetic processes on the 210Po solid-liquid distribution. In the sediment, 210Po is predominantly bound to organic matter or chromium reducible sulphides, and residuals (clay minerals and refractory oxides). Our results indicate that 210Po is not significantly bound to AVS, i.e. acid volatile sulphides: bioturbation could play a role by the early redistribution of 210Po bound to acid volatile sulphides in the sediment. 210Po, 210Pb and Pb exhibit differences in terms of distribution, probably due to a different mode of penetration in the sediment. This work provides information on solid and liquid distribution of 210Po and 210Pb in marine sediment. These data are very scarce in the litterature. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The nuclear DNAs from five species of anaerobic rumen fungi have been isolated and purified by means of two extraction methods (with and without 8 M urea). Their G + C contents have been characterized by the thermal denaturation procedure of Marmur and Doty. As has already been shown in Neocallimastix frontalis , the results obtained by the two techniques demonstrated a very low G + C content (less than 20%) and the constant presence of satelite DNA.

The nuclear DNAs from five species of anaerobic rumen fungi have been isolated and purified by means of two extraction methods (with and without 8 M urea). Their G + C contents have been characterized by the thermal denaturation procedure of Marmur and Doty. As has already been shown in Neocallimastix frontalis, the results obtained by the two techniques demonstrated a very low G + C content (less than 20%) and the constant presence of satellite DNA.

Nitrite and nitrate reductases are were found in numerous species of Pichia. The specific activities of these enzymes are at the same level of activity as in 13 species of yeasts classified in the genus Hansenula. Taxonomic implications are discussed.