Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MISC-C) is a systemic inflammatory disorder associated with novel COVID-19. Children diagnosed with COVID-19 typically experience mild viral symptoms, however, in rare instances more severe disease will develop. Current epidemiology states <1% of children diagnosed with COVID will develop complications of MIS-C. Symptoms of MIS-C are varying, but in general include abnormal vital signs (tachycardia, tachypnea), Kawasaki-like symptoms, respiratory distress, cardiac involvement, and shock like symptoms. Abdominal pain, features of acute kidney injury, coagulopathy, and neurologic dysfunction have also been reported. It is currently recommended for children with any combination of the above symptoms to be hospitalized and treated for MIS-C, given the potential for severe consequences. This case presentation aims to highlight the neurologic symptoms that can occur with the diagnosis of MIS-C. Current estimations predict 20% of children with MIS-C will develop more severe central nervous system symptoms. Our patient presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms, which has little documentation in current medical literature. Initial presentation, differential diagnosis, hospital workup, and treatment of disease will be discussed. Our case is a previously healthy 8yo male with past medical history of ADHD. He presented to the Emergency room with chief complaints of fever, confusion, and visual and motor hallucinations 3 weeks after receiving a positive COVID test. Prior to the date of presentation, the patient’s only symptom of COVID 19 was rhinorrhea. ED workup revealed tachycardia, pallor and erythema/swelling of fingers, facial rash, abdominal pain, and leukocytosis. Initial differential diagnosis included sepsis secondary to urinary tract infection versus encephalopathic MIS-C. Labs at presentation showed CRP and D-dimer within normal limits, and treatment for UTI was initiated. For the first few days of hospital stay, patients condition was unchanged and inflammatory marker levels rose. The patient also showed sustained tachycardia, fever, widened pulse pressures, nocturnal incontinence, and one episode of bigeminy. Treatment targeting MIS-C with, IV ceftriaxone, vancomycin, IVIG, methylprednisone, and aspirin was begun. Inflammatory markers subsequently began to downtrend and patients condition began to improve. This case study highlights central nervous system features as a potential primary presenting symptom of MIS-C. Currently, there is little literature on COVID 19 associated psychosis. Further research is needed to assess the underlying potential inflammatory mechanisms responsible for our patient’s visual and motor hallucinations resulting from MIS-C.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, directive, client-centered therapy designed to develop discrepancy and resolve ambivalence by eliciting and reinforcing client Change Talk. However, the exact link between the process engaged in during MI and outcome is only starting to be uncovered. The present thesis has replicated and expanded on the current knowledge of the relationship between Therapist and Client Behaviours during a MI-based intervention (Motivational Enhancement Therapy; MET) and outcome, and has provided support for the emergent theory of the inner workings of MI. This was achieved by coding 106 audiotaped MET sessions primarily by the methods outlined in the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code Version 2.0. Data was drawn from 28 participants who received 3-4 sessions of MET within the context of a randomised controlled trial for mild-moderate alcohol dependence at the Community Alcohol and Drug Service of Christchurch. Therapist and Client Behaviours were analysed within sessions (categorised into Early, Mid, or End Intervals) and across sessions, and compared with whether the client had drank within national drinking guidelines during the 6-months after MET (Controlled Drinkers). In terms of Client Behaviours during MET it was found that Uncontrolled Drinkers (compared with Controlled Drinkers) uttered a significantly higher frequency of Sustain Talk, lower Ability Language strength (over all MET and during End Intervals), and lower Commitment Language strength (during Session 2 and 4, and change over MET). Giving Information was the only Therapist Behaviour where significant differences were observed over all MET, with a higher frequency given to the Uncontrolled Drinkers. However, during End Intervals within MET Sessions, Controlled Drinkers received a significantly higher frequency of Advise without Permission and a lower frequency of Emphasise Control statements. In most instances MI-Consistent Therapist Behaviours were associated with higher strength of Ability and Commitment Language, and a lower frequency of Sustain Talk. MI-Inconsistent Therapist Behaviour, Direct, was associated with lower Client Language strength. Limitations to these results include small sample, limited ability to make inferences about causality, coder biases, and uneven reliability. However, this exploratory study was unique in investigating the relationship between Therapist Behaviours and the strength of Client Language, and in examining these factors within and across multiple sessions, and has produced a number of potentially valuable findings that warrant further investigation.

Plant parasitic nematodes cause billons of dollars in annual crop losses. One of the most damaging is the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, which is known to attack more than 3000 plants. This research will contribute to the understanding of host-plant resistance through characterization of the early infection processes of Meloidogyne incognita race 3 in susceptible (Lahontan) and resistant (Moapa) alfalfa cultivars by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Neither differential penetration of M. incognita J2 into Lahontan, nor migration of J2 from Moapa, played a significant role in the resistance mechanism(s). Coiled nematodes in the cortex were observed in greater numbers in the Moapa 48 hours after inoculation. This position was interpreted as a sign of disorientation and starvation. By 96 hours after inoculation, no coiled nematodes were observed in Lahontan. In Moapa, resistance probably depends not only on the failure of the J2 to identify a suitable feeding site and initiate giant cells, but also on its inability to maintain the giant cells, once they are initiated. At the ultrastructural level, 48 hours after inoculation, the most evident change in both cultivars was the appearance of a uniform interstitial material (IM) between the nematode cuticle and the root cell wall. At 96 hours, IM in Moapa was completely agglutinated while in Lahontan it was still uniform or only slightly agglutinated. Due to these clear differences between both cultivars I propose that the IM plays a role in the resistance of Moapa to M. incognita. Immunolabeling techniques were employed to determine if the distribution of the nematode's surface coat, deposited in host tissues, differs in resistant and susceptible alfalfa cultivars. At 72 hours after inoculation, labeling of surface coat epitopes in Moapa was stronger than at 24 and 48 hours after inoculation. Labeling was observed on the nematode's cuticle, the plant cell wall, and the IM. In Lahontan, 72 and 96 hours after penetration, labeling of the surface coat epitopes was observed on the nematode's cuticle, the root cell walls, and the cell wall junctions of cells near the nematode, but not in direct contact with the cell.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, directive, client-centered therapy designed to develop discrepancy and resolve ambivalence by eliciting and reinforcing client Change Talk. However, the exact link between the process engaged in during MI and outcome is only starting to be uncovered. The present thesis has replicated and expanded on the current knowledge of the relationship between Therapist and Client Behaviours during a MI-based intervention (Motivational Enhancement Therapy; MET) and outcome, and has provided support for the emergent theory of the inner workings of MI. This was achieved by coding 106 audiotaped MET sessions primarily by the methods outlined in the Motivational Interviewing Skill Code Version 2.0. Data was drawn from 28 participants who received 3-4 sessions of MET within the context of a randomised controlled trial for mild-moderate alcohol dependence at the Community Alcohol and Drug Service of Christchurch. Therapist and Client Behaviours were analysed within sessions (categorised into Early, Mid, or End Intervals) and across sessions, and compared with whether the client had drank within national drinking guidelines during the 6-months after MET (Controlled Drinkers). In terms of Client Behaviours during MET it was found that Uncontrolled Drinkers (compared with Controlled Drinkers) uttered a significantly higher frequency of Sustain Talk, lower Ability Language strength (over all MET and during End Intervals), and lower Commitment Language strength (during Session 2 and 4, and change over MET). Giving Information was the only Therapist Behaviour where significant differences were observed over all MET, with a higher frequency given to the Uncontrolled Drinkers. However, during End Intervals within MET Sessions, Controlled Drinkers received a significantly higher frequency of Advise without Permission and a lower frequency of Emphasise Control statements. In most instances MI-Consistent Therapist Behaviours were associated with higher strength of Ability and Commitment Language, and a lower frequency of Sustain Talk. MI-Inconsistent Therapist Behaviour, Direct, was associated with lower Client Language strength. Limitations to these results include small sample, limited ability to make inferences about causality, coder biases, and uneven reliability. However, this exploratory study was unique in investigating the relationship between Therapist Behaviours and the strength of Client Language, and in examining these factors within and across multiple sessions, and has produced a number of potentially valuable findings that warrant further investigation.

This thesis presents a draft of a diagnostic tool, intented to use to analyze mediated learning experience ("MLE") in the interactions of parents and school aged children. The first chapter deals with historical roots of MLE and theoretical concepts, which inspired Reuver Feuerstein, author of MLE. Next chapters of the thesis are giving insight to MLE parameters and connecting the parameters to the contemporary knowledge from psychological practice. The thesis is also focused on MISC approach, created by Pnina Klein, which hasn't been described yet in the czech psychological literature, even though it is based on MLE and it is commonly used in foreign research and interventional programmes. The thesis describes the structure of MLE and possibilities of it's uses. At the end of the theoretical part of the thesis, methods, based on MLE theory, used in the Czech republic, are described. Contemporary methods of analyzing interactions of parents and children are also mentioned. Research project of the thesis was focused on designing a draft of a specific form of a diagnostic tool Observed Interactions of Mediated Learning Experience (Pozorované Interakce Zkušenosti Zprostředkovaného Učení - "PIZZU"). It's contents and graphic form was created in cooperation with pedagogues and psychologists. Creating PIZZU...

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