The study of stem cells has received considerable attention in forming many different tissue types, and gives hope to many patients as it provides great potential for discovering treatments and cures to many diseases such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, spinal cord injuries and diabetes. This study was concerned with developing algorithms that analyses microscope images of stem cells harvested from the bone marrow or dental pulp of a rabbit, expanded in the laboratory at the Tissue Engineering Center in Alexandria, Egypt, and then transplanted into subcutaneous pouches of the rabbit. The research aimed to detect automatically as soon as osteogenic differentiated stem cells were ready to be implanted in the defective parts, thereby avoiding the cells becoming damaged by bacterial infection. A further requirement was that the algorithms would not use traditional (chemical) markers which eventually lead to the sample being discarded as it dies after adding the marker. A total of 36 microscopy images were obtained from seven separate experiments each lasting over 10 days, and the clinicians visually classified 18 images as showing not-ready osteogenic differentiated stem cells and the remaining images showing a variety of cells ready for implantation. The ready cells typically appeared as a colony, or spread all over the image interconnecting together to form a layer. Initially, image pre-processing and feature extraction techniques were applied to the images in order to try and identify the developing cells, and a t-test was applied to the total cell area in each image in an attempt to separate the not-ready and ready images. While there was a significant difference between not-ready images and the ready images which showed the colony shaped characteristics, there was no significant difference between not-ready images and ready images with the spreading interconnecting layer shape, and so more sophisticated classification techniques were investigated. As the differentiated stem cells are effectively texture based images, each of the 36 images were divided into quadrants to give a total of 144 images to increase the image dataset. Several sets of texture parameters were derived from the grey-scale histogram statistics, Grey-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) spatial frequency components of the images. Some of these parameters were used with traditional classification techniques including cross-correlation, and Euclidean distance measures to try and classify the texture relative to the first image (not-ready) in each experiment and the other images (not-ready and ready) in the experiment. The success rate using cross-correlation was 70%, and 68% for the Euclidean distance approach. Secondly, intelligent classification techniques using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were considered, using the various texture parameters as inputs to a feed-forward 1-hidden layer MLP using Back-propagation of Errors for training. The ANN approach gave the better results, with 77% using the grey-scale histogram statistics, 73% for GLCM, and 92% for the DCT with 70 spatial frequency components. It was observed for each of the experiments that images became classified as ready for implantation after approximately 10 days, and then remained ready for the rest of the experiment.

The debates related to the representation of the mentally ill in the media have been wide ranging over the last 20 years. Emergent representations have often been stigmatizing, claiming that the mentally ill are violent and dangerous. This study used an emergent methodological design to explore what the current representations of the mentally ill were and identify a case study from the available representations. It then examined the influence that the case study had on the thoughts and practice of experienced mental health practitioners. The study involved 8 practitioners and identified thoughts influenced by reading the case study and an academic article. Practitioner’s thoughts were captured over 3 separate interviews and by practitioners providing written reflections. At the last interview, practitioners were asked to provide comments as to what the experience of taking part in the study had meant to them. Generic themes related to risk, blame and professionalism all emerged. The study also found that practitioners were able to reflect on the influence that the material had on them, finding that only after discussing the reflections in the interviews that they became aware of some of their defensive thoughts and actions. The outcome of the study is that the media continue to present a negative representation of the mentally ill and mental health care, and that practitioner’s thoughts and actions are influenced by the media representation.

This thesis used an action learning approach to achieve two aims. Firstly to develop the authors knowledge of research and research methods and secondly to design, deliver and evaluate interprofessional education (IPE). An undergraduate IPE module was designed using the Contact Theory and delivered, in February 1999, to final year students of midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy and radiography through a problem-based learning approach. This IPE experience was evaluated in two phases. Phase one was a positivist/post-positivist evaluation and used a quasi-experimental approach. Questionnaires measured the role perception, subject and skills knowledge that one profession had regarding another profession and participants enthusiasm for IPE. Pre and post module group interviews with staff and students were also undertaken. Phase two was a 1-year follow up of students’ perceptions of their experiences on the module and used an interpretivist approach. This interview data was analysed from a phenomenological perspective. Phase one results demonstrated some statistically significant differences for some of the questionnaire items but little more than would be expected by chance. Interview and learning index data showed that students had learned about the subject knowledge of other professions with all students combined learning the most about subject knowledge for nurses. Midwifery was revealed as the profession that students had learned most about for skills knowledge. There was a statistically significant difference between professions’ enthusiasm for IPE with radiography the least enthusiastic. Phase two uncovered several themes including factors that have a detrimental effect on interprofessional working (IPW), the positive effect of the module on practice and positive and negative views of IPE. My personal leaning led me to a broader inquiring approach to research and developed my understanding of research paradigms. I gained knowledge and skills in qualitative research and improved my interviewing and analysis skills. The future of multiprofessional education is positive at both faculty and NHS levels and I conclude that there is a need for diverse forms of IPE including its delivery in the clinical context. Future research in IPE outcomes should use the qualitative paradigm.

The central aim of this thesis was to develop new tracking software employing various image tracking algorithms for tracking the speckled movement of the tendon image captured using dynamic B-mode ultrasound imaging. The algorithms were selected based on the literature related to the tracking of images captured using ultrasound imaging. Experiments were carried out to validate these tracking algorithms in order to enable development of the tracking software. The experiments conducted paralleled the objectives in designing, developing, experimenting and implementing the image-tracking algorithm to track movement of the human tendon in vivo within the speckled ultrasound images. The development of the tracking software focuses on solving the problems of tracking the ultrasound images as well as analysing the tracking movement frame-by-frame to produce useful measurements that can be used to describe the localised mechanical and structural properties of the human tendon. The algorithms tested were Normalised Cross Correlation (NCC), Mean Square Error (MSE), optical flow – Lucas-Kanade (LK) and combination of NCC and MSE (NCCMSE) selected by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and were tested on both active and passive movements of the patella tendon (knee) and the medial gastrocnemius tendon (ankle). The comparison of the algorithms led to the identification of a single algorithm giving optimal result. The results from all tested algorithm showed NCC to be the closest match to the standard manual measurement. NCC was also the fastest among the algorithms tested and contained fewer errors in tracking. For NCC algorithm, various sizes of the region of interest (ROI) block were also tested and found that 15x15 pixels ROI block size gave the optimum measurement, which was close to the standard manual measurement. The threshold levels also indicated that >0.90 to be the optimum level for optimum tracking. The 2- ROI tracking analysis were also explored to look at the tracking performances when tracking at two different regional sites of the tendon simultaneously, and again the  NCC performed better with 15x15 ROI block size and comparable to the results obtained from the standard manual measurement. Lastly, multiple layers of the tendon were also explored to look at the excursion of the anterior, midsection and posterior layers of the tendon during ramped isometric contraction. This experiment uses all the settings found from previous experiment results, and applied to look at the mechanical properties of the human tendon. The experiments showed that the anterior gave the highest mean stain followed by the mid section and the smallest mean strain was found at the posterior proximal. The experiment also looked at the distal strain, with the result showing that the posterior gave the highest mean strain followed mid section and anterior layer gave the smallest mean strain. The experiment also looked at the performance of posterior layers and distal layers at 50 and 100% force levels. The experimental results showed that the NCC to be the optimum-tracking algorithm. The method described here has the potential to improve clinical knowledge relating to the tendon mechanical properties. The information generated by the tracking algorithm could help to give further insight into the aetiology of tendon injury, repair, response to various training interventions and the time course of tissue adaptation with disease.

Psicóloga / The central aim of our study was to broad knowledge on the variables that may help to reduce burnout. To this end, we investigated whether the association between three job demands (i.e. role conflict, emotional demands and cognitive demands) and burnout was moderated by psychological empowerment and perceived team empowerment. Participants were 1268 employees from two organisations (government employees = 287, hospital staff = 981). Latent moderated structural equations revealed different patterns of moderation in the samples. Psychological empowerment offset the influence of the three job demands on burnout in the hospital sample, whereas in the government organisation only emotional demands were buffered. Perceived team empowerment ameliorated the effect of emotional and cognitive demands on burnout in the government sample whereas in the hospital only emotional demands were moderated. Interestingly, both kinds of empowerment were significant moderators of emotional demands in the two samples. Overall, our results support the notion that psychological and perceived team empowerment can be relevant health-promoting factors that help to deal with high job demands and reduce burnout

Thesis advisor: Belle Liang / Research on women's voice and self-silencing has shown that girls begin to silence themselves during adolescence in response to sociocultural pressures to conform to gender norms and as a way to stay relationally connected with others. While the literature on voice for women has been extensive, it has centered primarily on the experiences of European-American women, which may not be generalizable to other ethnic/racial groups. This study extends existing research by examining voice experiences for Asian American women specifically. Given the multiple minority statuses and social roles that are a part of Asian American women's identities, the current study examined the intersecting influences of gender, race, culture, and power, in the experience of voice and authenticity. Specifically, this study explored voice for these women in different social contexts where issues of gender, race and power tend to be salient. Additionally, the study examined the role of racism-related stress and culture in self-silencing. Finally, associations between voice, support for voice, and psychological wellbeing were assessed. Findings indicated that levels of voice, as well as levels of perceived support for voice varied by social context, providing evidence for the importance of social climate in voice. In general, both voice and perceived support for voice were higher in settings with minimal power differentials (i.e., with female and Asian peers vs. with authority figures). In two of the social contexts of interest (i.e., non-Asian peers and male authority figures), racism-related stress was significantly associated with lower levels of voice. Self-construal, which was used as an indicator of cultural tendencies, was also significantly associated with voice; individuals with an independent style had more voice, and those with an interdependent style had less voice. Higher levels of voice were associated with higher perceived support for voice. And ultimately, higher voice was linked with better psychological outcomes. Implications for research, work/school settings, and clinical practice were discussed, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

The provider-role continues to be strongly linked to ideas of manhood even in the era where family and work roles have changed. This is mainly because society continues to esteem notions of hegemonic masculinities that reduce men to a single role of providing. Such a discourse is problematic however, especially during the quandary of unemployment that South Africa finds itself. With this in mind, men find themselves battling not only with the stigma arising from their inability to perform manhood (providing) but also with the harsh labour market that refuses them the means to perform this role. As a consequence, men suffer often undiagnosed depression leading to suicide, harmful behaviour and loss of hope for a better future. Through the qualitative research approach, this study adopted the Social Identity Theory, the Eco-systems Approach as well as the Functionalism Theory towards exploring the effects of strong identification with the idea of man as provider on the psychosocial wellbeing of black men during unemployment. Individual interviews were conducted with twenty-two young men aged between 18 and 35 from Soweto as well as three social workers who were previously placed as student social workers with the Ipelegeng Youth Leadership and Development Programme. Through the use of the thematic content analysis, this study found that young men identified with the provider role and therefore participated in informal work under hazardous conditions in order to fulfil this role. Where the men failed to fulfil the provider role, communities often ridiculed and shamed them leading them to feeling stressed and depressed. The study also found that the young men were not utilising psychosocial services; owing to the notions of traditional masculinities; general lack of services and perceived ineffectiveness of programs. This report thus concludes that interventions that are tailored to tackle men’s problems should be developed and be made widely available, being stringently cognisant of contextual cultural dynamics however.

Thesis advisor: Summer S. Hawkins / Preventing poor health in childhood is a national social work and public health priority in the United States. Importantly, child health and wellbeing is explicitly linked with maternal health. Thus, maternal depression, a common mental illness, is a concern not only for the mother, but for the health of her offspring. The purpose of this three-paper dissertation was to extend the understanding of child health and wellbeing at age 9 years old in the context of maternal depression. Analyses utilized data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study and were guided by a resilience perspective, life course perspective, family systems theory, and ecological systems theory. Paper 1 examined the unique impact of maternal depression on child physical health outcomes utilizing a series of logistic regression analyses. Findings indicated that multiple individual-, maternal-, and family-level risk and protective factors influenced the association between maternal depression and child physical health. Paper 2 utilized latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression analyses to examine child physical health and psychosocial wellbeing in the context of maternal depression. Five distinct profiles of child health and wellbeing were identified, suggesting the traditional dichotomy of healthy versus unhealthy may fail to capture the complex nature of child health and wellbeing for those experiencing maternal depression. Results showed that maternal depression was associated with increased risk of poor health and wellbeing, yet also emphasized the ability for children to achieve resilient functioning. Paper 3 explored the impact of maternal depression on the maternal-child relationship and the protective nature of interpersonal supports and community resources. Findings indicated that interpersonal and community resources directly and indirectly supported a positive maternal-child relationship for mothers with depression. Altogether, results extend the literature base by providing a more nuanced and complete examination of child health and wellbeing in the context of maternal depression, with a focus on the potential for resilient functioning among this at-risk population. Findings provide evidence that even in the context of risk, protective factors exist that support resilient functioning. Results have important policy and practical implications, including continued screenings for maternal depression in a primary care setting. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Within the UK, the Gambling Act 2005 remains the primary piece of legislation that governs how the gambling industry is regulated. The Act established the following licensing principles upon which gambling practices should be based: that gambling should not be a source of crime or disorder, be associated with crime or disorder or be used to support crime; gambling should be conducted in a fair and open way; and children and other vulnerable people should not be harmed or exploited. Reflecting the general principles of corporate citizenship, the Gambling Act 2005 implies that those organisations which provide gambling products and services should integrate ethics and social responsibility within their operational and strategic frameworks and within their corporate governance. This thesis focuses on employee and consumer perceptions of responsible gambling in general, and specifically in terms of the utility of responsible gambling tools that are available to them. It reviews literature relating to corporate social responsibility and responsible gambling from a variety of perspectives ranging from those who propose that the ultimate responsibility rests with the consumer to those who recommend that gambling organisations should be able to demonstrate compliance with responsible gambling initiatives. The primary data analysis is based on two studies: one focusing on responsible gambling perceptions of 17 employees from a leading Internet gambling provider; and a second study based on 425 consumer perceptions of responsible gambling provisions which were elicited using an Internet based questionnaire. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis whilst statistical applications including linear regression and multinomial regression were used to analyse questionnaire responses. The analysis highlights factors that undermine the current approach of responsible gambling which is based on the principle of self-identification, self-help and self-regulation by the consumer. For example, it proposes that employee and consumer perceptions of responsible gambling are based on the following four components: perceptions of potential conflicts of interest with a system; willingness to engage with responsible gambling tools; the perceived effectiveness of the responsible gambling systems and the level of responsibility associated with marketing activities. In addition, it distinguishes between financial motives in terms of those who gamble to earn income and those who gamble to win money and it highlights that human factors, such as the need for autonomy and mastery are as significant as social, financial, escape and arousal factors in influencing an individual’s decision to gamble. The study recommends a review of the way in which gambling addiction is diagnosed and research and treatment are funded. This will include challenges for policy makers and providers of gambling products and services in terms of how responsible gambling may further be improved in the future.

The idea of microfinance has burst into the area of global poverty reduction. Many comments have been made about its benefits such as; it is an alternative tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Many studies have attempted to assess different facets of the impact of microfinance, especially trying to show its potential for greater financial inclusion and economic benefits using advanced rigorous quantitative approaches. Although some studies have evaluated this topic in the past there remains some significant gaps in the literature, including the impact of microfinance on other dimensions such as the social impact, education or environmental impact, the impact on happiness and subjective wellbeing of its clients has been hardly examined. This study aims to fill this gap by using rigorous quantitative methods with a rich qualitative dataset to assess the impact of microfinance on both economic and non-economic aspects, especially the happiness and psychological dimension. I Use primary data from a household survey and an ethnographic approach combining quantitative methods such as matching estimators, propensity score matching with nonparametric regression. The mixed methods were employed in order to evaluate the impact of the microfinance schemes on the improvement of borrowers’ wellbeing, household condition and local economic and environmental development. The most notable findings were that the borrowers from the savings group using group lending schemes utilised the loan for mainly entrepreneurial purposes and household spending, performed better than other groups of borrowers. This could be seen from the increase in household income and a high repayment rate. In addition, by observing the social impacts, it indicated that the group lending together with the ecotourism project generated and strengthened the social ties in the community. The group members also produced high positive psychological indicators compared to the non-member households. Easterlin’s paradox was revisited and found that not only was it income that affected happiness and wellbeing, but other factors seemed to have an influence on self-reported happiness. Those factors included health or health condition of family members which significantly influenced self-reported happiness in all models. Considering the impact of microfinance on happiness and wellbeing, it was found that clients of the group lending scheme can repay better and led to a higher level of self-reported happiness and subjective wellbeing. The ability to repay also affected a low level of stress or negative moods.