Let's go outside: using photography to explore values and culture in mental health nursing.

Creative and imaginative approaches to mental healthcare education are known to help students explore emotions, empathy and others' experiences, as well as address ambivalence and ambiguity. Very few studies in mental health nursing education specifically utilise photography as a participatory pedagogic tool, with even fewer utilising photography to explore understandings of culture, values and diversity. Photography makes visible complex, collaborative forms of learning and previously unidentified, unarticulated ideas about culture and values. Photography as a critical pedagogic method helps develop critical, politicized understandings of culture and values. Increasing culturally diverse populations means complex and conflicting values have become a common feature in mental health nursing. In education the need to critically examine such topics necessitates creative and engaging pedagogy, and visual methods are readily acknowledged as such. Yet while many studies advocate and demonstrate the value of art-based methods in student learning, very few studies in mental health nursing specifically utilize photography as a participatory pedagogic tool, and fewer still use photography to explore understandings of culture, values and diversity. In this paper, we discuss a qualitative study where mental health nursing students used photography to create images in order to explore their own and often dominant culture and attendant values. Findings suggest that photography makes visible situated, relational and collaborative learning, and surfaces previously unidentified, unarticulated ideas about culture and values. These practices mimic important processes central to mental health nursing practice and contemporaneous understandings of diverse cultures. We argue that photography provides an important resource with which to unearth subjugated knowledge, promote critical understandings of culture and values, and thereby help address inequalities in mental health care.

A randomised, double-blind pilot study of enzyme-potentiated desensitisation for prophylaxis of large local reactions to mosquito bites.

Primary Objective. To test the hypothesis that two injections of enzyme-potentiated mosquito antigen significantly reduce the size of experimental mosquito bites in participants with LLR-MB. Design. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group comparison over 3 months. Setting. Hospital outpatient clinic. Participants. Fifty adult participants of both sexes. Interventions. Two injections of mosquito antigen or matching placebo, 6 weeks apart. Main Outcome Measures. Early (1 hour) and late (24 hours) mean square root of erythema area (SREA) following controlled mosquito bite with the second bite given at least 6 weeks following the final injection. Results. At 1 hour, mean SREA was slightly higher in the EPD group compared to placebo after adjusting for baseline values (0.46, 95% CI -6.11 to 7.03), but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.89, ANCOVA analysis); neither were the results at 24 hours (-2.58, 95% CI -11.73 to 6.57) (P = 0.57). The proportion of participants experiencing a decrease in wheal size at 1 or 24 hours was similar between groups. Conclusions. EPD was not demonstrated to be effective for immediate or delayed LLR-MB. Methodological problems included a high variability in LLR-MB between subjects, suggesting that a crossover design should be used in future.

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of carbamazepine and its main metabolite in rat plasma utilizing an automated blood sampling system.

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine and its main metabolite carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide in rat plasma is described. The method consists of a liquid-liquid extraction procedure and electrospray LC/MS/MS analysis. The chromatographic separation was achieved within 5 min using a C(8) (150 mm x 2.1mm) 5 microm column with a mobile phase composed of water/acetonitrile/acetic acid (69.5:30:0.5, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. D(10)-carbamazepine is used as the internal standard for all compounds. Analytes were determined by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode using selected reaction monitoring (SRM). Carbamazepine was monitored by scanning m/z 237-->194, carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide by m/z 253-->210 and d(10)-carbamazepine by m/z 247-->204. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) is 5 ng/ml for each analyte, based on 0.1 ml aliquots of rat plasma. The extraction recovery of analytes from rat plasma was over 87%. Intra-day and inter-day assay coefficients of variations were in the range of 2.6-9.5 and 4.0-9.6%, respectively. Linearity is observed over the range of 5-2000 ng/ml. This method was used for pharmacokinetic studies of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide in response to two different blood sampling techniques (i.e., manual sampling versus automated sampling) in the rat. Several differences between the two sampling techniques suggest that the method of blood collection needs to be considered in the evaluation of pharmacokinetic data.

Effects of subcutaneous injections of a long acting moxidectin formulation in grazing beef cattle on parasite fecal egg reduction and animal weight gain.

Trials were conducted in Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois and Wisconsin using a common protocol to evaluate effectiveness and safety of a long acting (LA), oil-based injectable formulation of moxidectin in beef cattle grazing spring and/or summer pastures. At each site, 150 cattle (steers and/or heifers) were blocked based on pretreatment fecal strongyle egg counts (EPG) and then randomly assigned to treatments within blocks. Presence of naturally acquired parasitic infections, confirmed by presence of parasite eggs in feces, was a prerequisite for study enrollment. Within each block of three animals, two received moxidectin LA injectable on day 0 at a dosing rate of 1.0 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. into the dorsal aspect of the proximal third of the ear, and one received a placebo control treatment. Cattle were weighed before treatment and on day 55 or 56 (55/56) after treatment. Fecal samples were also collected from 10 randomly selected blocks of animals at each site on days 14, 28 and 55/56 for EPG quantification. Average daily gain (ADG) was computed over the posttreatment period. Data pertaining to ADG and EPG were combined across sites and analyzed by mixed model analysis of variance to assess the fixed effect of treatment and random effects of site, block within site and the treatment by site interaction. Compared to placebo-treated controls, the geometric means of fecal EPG counts from cattle treated with moxidectin LA injectable were reduced 99.8% 14 days after treatment, 99.1% 28 days after treatment and 96.7% 55/56 days after treatment. Rate of weight gain by cattle treated with moxidectin LA injectable was 0.59 kg/day, or 23% (0.11 kg/day) more than placebo-treated controls (P<0.05). None of the cattle treated with moxidectin LA injectable exhibited signs of macrocyclic lactone toxicosis. Summarized across all study sites, proportions of cattle that received concurrent therapeutic treatments were similar among treatment groups. Study results demonstrate that moxidectin cattle LA injectable administered at a dosing rate of 1.0 mg moxidectin/kg b.w. to grazing beef cattle was effective and safe.

Double reentrance of surface arrangements in freestanding liquid crystal films.

The molecular arrangement of tilted surface layers on freestanding films above the bulk smectic-A-smectic-C(*) transition has been studied by null transmission ellipsometry. In the presence of an applied in-plane electric field, a synclinic-anticlinic-synclinic-anticlinic double reentrance has been observed. Furthermore, we have characterized a novel transition from the synclinic arrangement to a structure in which the interior layers tilt in the same orientation and the outermost surface layers tilt oppositely with the interior layers.

Progesterone increases susceptibility of gilts to uterine infections after intrauterine inoculation with infectious bacteria.

In cattle and sheep, a progestogenated uterus is susceptible to infections, but this is not well documented for pigs. Therefore, the effects of day of the estrous cycle and progesterone on the susceptibility to uterine infections were evaluated. Gilts (n = 5 per group) were assigned to treatments in 2 x 2 factorial arrays. In Exp. 1, day of cycle and bacterial challenge were main effects. On d 0 or 8, uteri were inoculated with either 70 x 10(7) cfu of Escherichia coli and 150 x 10(7) cfu of Arcanobacterium pyogenes in PBS or with PBS. In Exp. 2, ovariectomy (OVEX) and progesterone treatment were main effects. On d 0, gilts were ovariectomized or a sham procedure was performed. After surgery, gilts received i.m. injections of progesterone (10 mg/5 mL) or 5 mL of safflower oil diluent twice daily. On d 8, gilts were inoculated with the same doses of bacteria as in Exp. 1. In Exp. 1 and 2, vena caval blood was collected for 4 d, after which uteri were collected. Sediment and ability to culture E. coli and A. pyogenes from uterine flushings were used to diagnose infections. Differential white blood cell counts and lymphocyte response to concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to measure lymphocyte proliferation. Progesterone, estradiol-17beta, prostaglandin F2alpha, (PGF2alpha), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured in vena caval blood. In Exp. 1, d-8 gilts receiving bacteria developed infections, but d-0 gilts receiving bacteria did not. Daily percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes changed (P < 0.05) with cycle day and bacterial challenge. Basal- and Con A-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation were greater (P < 0.05) for d-0 than for d-8 gilts. Concentrations of PGF2, (P < 0.01) and PGE2 (P < 0.05) increased after bacterial challenge, regardless of stage of the estrous cycle at the time of inoculation. In Exp. 2, OVEX decreased (P < 0.001) and progesterone treatment increased (P < 0.001) progesterone concentrations, and OVEX decreased (P < 0.01) estradiol-17beta. Gilts with ovarian and/or exogenous progesterone developed infections. Daily percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes changed in response to OVEX, and neutrophils changed (P < 0.05) in response to endogenous and exogenous progesterone. Lymphocyte proliferation in response to Con A and LPS increased (P < 0.05) with OVEX and decreased (P < 0.05) with progesterone treatment. We conclude that endogenous and exogenous progesterone reduce the ability of the uterus in gilts to resist infections.

Unusual behavior of the surface-induced tilted layers in free-standing films of a non-layer-shrinkage liquid crystal compound.

Null-transmission ellipsometry has been conducted to study the molecular arrangements in free-standing films of one chiral compound above the bulk smectic-A-smectic-C* transition temperature. Upon cooling under a proper electric field, a nonplanar-anticlinic-synclinic or a nonplanar-synclinic transition has been observed. The nonplanar structure continuously evolves into the anticlinic or synclinic structures. Increasing electric field can induce a rare transition from a synclinic to an anticlinic structure.

Reproductive performance of ewe lambs from ewes from different selection practices with or without induced estrus.

Three groups of ewe lambs born in May (experiment 1; n=211) or April (experiment 2; n=174) were used to evaluate the effects of selection line and induction of estrus on pregnancy rate. Experiment 1 was a single factor experiment with induction of estrus as the main effect. In early December, May-born Targhee (n=82) and Rambouillet x Targhee (n=129) ewes were randomly assigned within body weight to one of two treatment groups: control or induction of estrus. Experiment 2 was designed in a 2x2 factorial array with the main effects of induction of estrus or selection line. In early November, April-born Targhee lambs (n=174) from two distinct selection lines were either treated as controls or received an estrus induction treatment. The two lines included an unselected control line of randomly bred ewes and a line that had been selected since 1976, based on the weight of lamb weaned. Ewes from each line were randomly assigned within body weight to one of the treatment groups. In experiments 1 and 2, estrus was induced using MAP pessaries. Pessaries were inserted for 12 days. At the time of pessary removal, ewe lambs received 400 IU eCG i.m. All ewe lambs were bred in multi-sire pens. Pregnancy rate and fetal numbers were determined either by lambing data or real-time ultrasound. Body weight, lambing date and fetal numbers were analyzed by GLM, and remaining variables were analyzed by CATMOD. For experiment 1, estrus induction increased (P<0.01) pregnancy rates (61 versus 31%) and number of fetuses estimated by real-time ultrasound (79 versus 35%) compared to control ewe lambs. Pregnancy rate and fetal number were increased (P<0.01) for the 1st year compared to the 2nd year. For experiment 2, estrus induction tended to increase (P<0.07) pregnancy rate, and pregnancy rate differed (P<0.01) between selection lines. Estrus induction increased (P<0.05) fetal numbers (0.96) compared to controls (0.77). Fetal numbers were greater (P<0.01) for the selected line (1.06) compared to random bred controls (0.67). Average date of lambing was earlier in both experiments for the estrus-induced ewe lambs compared to controls. These results indicate that induction of estrus can be recommended if increased reproduction is desired for ewe lambs.

Oxytocin-induced cervical dilation and cervical manipulation in sheep: effects on laparoscopic artificial insemination.

The difficulty of cervical penetration severely limits the use of transcervical AI (TAI) in sheep, and trauma from cervical manipulation (CM) may reduce fertility after TAI. We investigated the effects of cervical dilation using exogenous oxytocin (OT) to facilitate TAI and its effects on reproductive variables after laparoscopic AI (LAI). Estrus was synchronized by inserting pessaries impregnated with 6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone acetate (60 mg) for 12 d. In Exp. 1, we determined whether OT and CM before LAI affected the interval from pessary removal to ovulation and fertilization rate. Crossbred ewes (n = 16) were assigned to 1) saline-CM or 2) OT-CM. In Exp. 2, effects of OT and CM on lambing rates were evaluated with white-faced ewes (n = 220) in a 2 x 2 factorial experiment: 1) saline-sham CM; 2) saline-CM; 3) OT-sham CM; and 4) OT-CM. In both studies, eCG (400 IU i.m.) was injected at pessary removal, and LAI was performed 48 to 52 h later. In Exp. 1, ewes received i.v. either 400 USP units of OT or 20 mL of saline at 30 to 60 min before LAI, and CM was administered as for TAI. Beginning 32 h after pessary removal and continuing at 8-h intervals, ovaries were examined with ultrasonography to estimate time of ovulation. Treatment in Exp. 1 did not affect combined ovum/embryo recovery rate (69%), but OT-CM decreased fertilization rate (47 vs 59%; P < 0.05). The OT tended to reduce the interval to ovulation (OT, 59 h vs saline, 66 h; P < 0.06). The OT x CM interaction in Exp. 1 was not significant. For Exp. 2, approximately 25 min before sham CM or CM, 200 USP units of OT or 10 mL of saline was injected i.v. The LAI was performed immediately after sham CM or CM. At 10 to 12 d after AI in Exp. 2, ewes were mated with Suffolk rams. Blood was collected between 24 and 26 d after AI for pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) RIA. The PSPB pregnancy and lambing rates were both 62% in saline-sham controls. The CM did not affect pregnancy (69%) or lambing rate (64%). The OT treatment decreased (P < 0.05) PSPB pregnancy (59%) and lambing rates (56%) in OT-sham ewes and pregnancy and lambing rates in CM ewes (both 43%). Neither CM nor OT before LAI affected lambing rates to next estrus, indicating no long-term damage to the cervix or uterus. In summary, CM did not affect fertility after LAI, but OT decreased lambing rate independent of CM. If OT will not be usable for TAI, it may still be a tool for training TAI personnel.