The present research examined the features that may differentiate cuts made in bone by mechanical and hand-powered saws, specifically investigating the characteristics of commercially available reciprocating saws. The partial limbs of adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were used as a proxy for human remains, and were cut using five commercially available reciprocating saw blades and a hand-powered hacksaw. The reciprocating blades tested ranged from five teeth-per-inch to 14/18 teeth-per-inch and included raker, alternating, and wavy tooth sets. The hacksaw blade had 32 teeth-per-inch, with wavy set teeth. All the blades examined were intended to cut wood, metal, or both materials. The resulting false start kerfs and complete kerfs on the remains were then examined macroscopically and microscopically. The present study utilized both qualitative and quantitative analysis to examine kerf features that characterize reciprocating saws. The presentation of specific features within the kerf varied based upon blade properties, how the implement was powered, and how it was wielded in reference to the material. The results of the present study demonstrated that significant differences do exist between reciprocating saw blades. Kerf characteristics in which significant differences were noted include: kerf false start (cross section) shape, frequency of cut surface drift, presence of harmonics, striation regularity, and exit chipping size. Inter-blade differences generally reflect class characteristics previously established for hand-powered blades, though reciprocating blades do not strictly follow these categorizations (Symes 1992; Symes et al. 1998, 2010). Identification of inter-blade differences allows the limited identification of sub-classes within reciprocating saws based on the above characteristics, though blades cannot be uniquely identified. Additionally, interior exit chipping was noted, which has not been mentioned in previous sharp force trauma research. Ultimately, this research has applications for sharp force trauma analysis and further aids in the identification of reciprocating saw use in a forensic context, including dismemberments.

Background: The societys requirements for nurses working in care are to achieve good qualitative, safe care for patients that experiencing several trauma and suffering. Todays medical care with high patient flow and pace, as well as savings and low nursing staffing. Reported to be contributing factors to nurses suffering from compassion fatigue. Problem:The combination of this and the inadequate guidelines or support for being able to handle these requirements as a nurse, this contributing factors to nurses developing compassion fatigue Purpose: The purpose of the thesis work is to highlight the nurses experience of compassion fatigue. Method: A qualitative literature study with descriptive synthesis, twelve articles has been analyzed according to Evans (2002). Results: To create a balance between working life and priva life, having knowledge and being read as well as taking care of yourself is considered essential to avoid compassion fatigue. A support from management and colleagues was considered important to counteract compassion fatigue. Conclusion: nurses who experience stress or compassion fatigue as well as lacking tools or knowledge about what counteracts compassion fatigue can have difficulty emotionally engaging in caring. Which contributes to stress and even poorer quality of care.

Le SNC est doté de faibles capacités régénératives intrinsèques. Ses lésions se traduisent par l’apparition d’incapacités irréversibles invalidantes. Les traumas spinaux cervicaux (C1-C2) représentent la majorité des cas. Ils détruisent, les voies bulbo-spinales respiratoires interrompant ainsi les connexions synaptiques entre les pré-motoneurones et le pool de motoneurones phréniques causant un dysfonctionnement diaphragmatique. Ces lésions atteignent aussi les voies pyramidales commandant les neurones moteurs situés dans l'élargissement cervical qui innervent les extrémités supérieures impliquées dans les fonctions motrices, Les symptômes respiratoires consistent en une capacité vitale réduite et des infections pulmonaires. Les symptômes musculo-squelettiques comprennent la paraplégie, l'hémiplégie, l'hémiparésie, la tétraplégie. Peu d'études sont consacrées à l’évaluation du potentiel thérapeutique des cellules souches ecto-mésenchymateuses olfactives (OEMSCs) dans des modèles lésionnels chez les rongeurs. Celui-ci a été évalué sur notre modèle lésionnel compressif en C2 qui induit un déficit respiratoire et locomoteur persistant, reproductible et quantifiable. Elles présentent de fortes capacités prolifératives et neurogéniques et ne présentent aucun facteur co-morbide. Ces rats syngéniques nous ont permis d’évaluer la faisabilité, d’éviter l’utilisation d’anti rejet et de permettre une bonne intégration des OEMSCs dans le tissu hôte. Leur transplantation facilite une récupération substantielle des fonctions respiratoires et locomotrice, réduit la zone lésionnelle et l'inflammation et favorise l’axogénèse suite à une lésion cervicale en C2. / The CNS has weak intrinsic regenerative capabilities. Its lesions result in the appearance of irreversible incapacitating disabilities. Cervical spinal trauma (C1-C2) represents the majority of cases. They destroy the bulbo-spinal respiratory tract thus interrupting the synaptic connections between the pre-motoneurons and the phrenic motor neuron pool causing diaphragmatic dysfunction. These lesions also reach the pyramidal pathways controlling the motor neurons located in cervical enlargement that innervate the upper extremities involved in the motor functions. Respiratory symptoms consist of a reduced vital capacity and pulmonary infections. Musculoskeletal symptoms include paraplegia, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, quadriplegia. Few studies are devoted to assessing the therapeutic potential of olfactory ecto-mesenchymal stem cells (OEMSCs) in rodent models of injury. This one was evaluated on our model compressive lesion in C2 which induces respiratory and locomotor deficit persistent, reproducible and quantifiable. They have high proliferative and neurogenic capacities and have no co-morbid factor. The choice of a syngeneic strain allowed us to evaluate the feasibility, to avoid the use of anti rejection and thus to allow an integration of the OEMSCs in the host tissue. The transplantation of OEMSCs facilitates a substantial recovery of respiratory and locomotor functions, reduces lesion area and inflammation, and promotes axogenesis following cervical spinal cord injury in C2.

While the negative effects of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 are still permeating throughout the United States, a few novelists have taken on the extreme task of writing about this historic event. Richard Gray describes the failure of language after the attack took place, yet novelists wanted to write about this tragedy anyway. Reading trauma in 9/11 is inevitable as it is important. In looking at three novels that deal with the events during and the aftermath of 9/11, I hope to consider the way art is used in these texts. In doing so, my thesis will look at the possibility of art being able to heal the wounds of this traumatic event. My second chapter will focus on the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. This novel depicts the effect 9/11 had on the child protagonist, Oskar, and follows him as he works through the trauma of losing his father in the South Tower. The third chapter of my thesis will discuss Don DeLillo's Falling Man, which offers a depiction of the powerful effect trauma has on the main characters in the novel, particularly Lianne. The performance artist is discussed at length. My fourth chapter will discuss the novel The Submission by Amy Waldman. Just as Maya Lin's submission for her Vietnam memorial sparked controversy, Waldman takes the same approach by casting an American Muslim as the artist and memorial architect for 9/11. While the previous novels focus on the personal effects of trauma on the characters, my chapter on The Submission will elucidate how trauma is negotiated on a national scale. I hope to answer such questions as: What do we expect in a memorial? What should we expect? What are the various demands survivors place on memorials?

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of culture on coping with child sexual abuse (CSA). Specifically, I assessed whether the perpetrators’ familial membership (intrafamilial vs extrafamilial) moderated the relations (a) between traditional Latin@ values (familismo, respeto, traditional gender roles, and personalismo) and survivors’ perceived family support effectiveness and (b) between Latin@ values and current trauma interference. I also examined the relationships (a) between trauma resolution and family’s support effectiveness and (b) between trauma resolution and current trauma interference. In total, 83 Latina survivors participated in this online study. Results indicated that the relation between respeto and current trauma interference was moderated by the perpetrators’ familial membership. Survivors who highly valued personalismo, regardless of the perpetrators’ familial membership, reported that the trauma interfered less with their lives. The participants who reported that the trauma interfered more with their lives also reported that the trauma was more resolved. In addition, those who reported greater current trauma interference were more likely to have sought counseling for their CSA, and those who were older tended to feel their trauma was less resolved. Finally, survivors of intrafamilial CSA tended to be younger when the abuse occurred and older at the time of participation in the study. In sum, these findings highlight the complex relationship between culture and coping among Latina survivors of CSA. Findings can contribute to the development of culturally informed services for Latina survivors of CSA by helping counselors and researchers assist Latinas to understand how CSA survivors’ coping efficacy and recovery outcomes are related to their cultural contexts.

Narrative frameworks provide a unique method for understanding how important events and relationships become central to individual identity. Informed by these frameworks, the Centrality of Event Scale (CES; Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) serves as a means to quantify the extent to which a specific event has become central to personal identity. Utilizing the CES, Berntsen and Rubin and colleagues demonstrate the strong link between central traumatic events and psychopathology. Despite this work, however, far less literature explicates the factors that lead to growth and adaptive functioning. In order to address this limitation across the literature, a modified version of Berntsen and Rubin's CES was created in order to assess the importance of close positive social relationships to identity. Data were collected from 255 individuals from undergraduate psychology courses at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Specifically, it was hypothesized that the component structure of the Centrality of Event Scale modified for social relationships (CESpr) would be commensurate with Berntsen and Rubin's original scale, and it would predict several measures of adaptive functioning. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that positive relational centrality would predict these measures of adaptive functioning, even after controlling for positive event centrality and social support. Congruent with Berntsen and Rubin's original CES, the CESpr yielded a one-component solution, and correlated with several measures of adaptive functioning. Furthermore, after controlling for positive event centrality and social support, positive relational centrality significantly predicted positive affect, resilience, gratitude, and post-traumatic growth. Results of the current study suggest increased personal meaning and relevance attributed to close positive social relationships is indicative of increased adaptive functioning. These findings are consistent with narrative conceptualizations of the self, which suggest that central events and relationships affect the functioning of the individual. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Research related to positive psychological reactions following exposure to traumatic events, also known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), has suggested that support from others can facilitate such outcomes. The current study focused on whether people's perceptions of PTG differed based on the gender of a hypothetical survivor and nature of the trauma. Characterological differences amongst those who perceive growth as being more, or less, likely was also of interest. Perceptions of growth were measured in relation to three possible traumatic scenarios (vignettes) that were randomly assigned to participants. Following the vignette, participants completed a variety of self-report measures. Contrary to previous PTG literature, there were no consistent characterological differences among participants who did, and who did not, perceive growth as a possible outcome following trauma exposure. PTG was not related to nature of the trauma or gender of the survivor. Implications for clinical practice and future directions for research are discussed.

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF CATHRINE HOEKSTRA, for the Master of Arts Degree in English, presented on May 6, 2016 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: INVISIBLE WOUNDS: PROCESSING TRAUMA IN WAR NARRATIVES THROUGHOUT LITERATURE MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Edward Brunner Many Veterans face “invisible wounds” of war. By examining various types of war narratives in literature we can understand how these veterans cope with their invisible wounds and what others can do to help them process their trauma. This project considers types of trauma theory in addition to several short stories by Tim O’Brien and Phil Klay. Veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan often face these “invisible wounds,” and these stories help us see that trauma in its complexity. War itself is a traumatic experience, but for some veterans post-traumatic-stress occurs after the war is over. It is my hope through this project we can understand the invisible wounds of war such as post-traumatic-stress disorder and traumatic brain injury while also understanding combat stress and the struggles that veterans face in their civilian life. By examining two texts of short stories from two completely different wars, we can look at trauma from different points of view. During Vietnam some veterans were faced with isolation, often times tempted with alcohol, drugs and suicide. These members of the armed forces were not welcomed home in most cases, and Tim O’Brien’s short stories let us understand just how daunting it was to be at war, and how storytelling is key to comprehending the difficulties of this war. Drawing on another kind of wartime experience is Phil Klay, who brings about the bureaucracies of Iraq and the difficulty that some Marines face when they are home trying to integrate into civilian life. Sometimes the stories are difficult, raw, and hard to comprehend, but processing trauma also allows one to improve the quality of life. By listening to these stories we are making the storyteller valued, and we are also learning about historical and cultural contexts. In my time as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I was fortunate to work with student-veterans returning to the university after deployments. These students, all from diverse backgrounds allowed me to understand what it truly means to listen to the story and be attentive to what these students wanted and needed. By introducing war narratives, short stories, and poems in the classroom we give student-veterans an opportunity to see that writing is not only an outlet for self-expression, but also a way to let the public know what military life and deployments are like.

My dissertation charts the transatlantic nineteenth-century novel's subtle revisions to the traditional marriage plot, in terms of both narrative and form, identifying a gradual shift in the way marriage was fictionalized. I argue that incremental revisions to the marriage plot reconstruct positive representations of female marital experience into negative depictions that transform marriage into a form of institutionalization that leads to psychological and bodily trauma. I reveal the development of a collective trauma narrative that underscores the nineteenth-century woman's experience living inside society's oppressive marital culture. The novel serves as the body of cultural work that both represents and shapes women's marital experiences inside a society that legally forced them to surrender their identity, person, and property to their husband, as well as socially holding them to a much higher standard of propriety and obedience. In specific chapters, I create transatlantic pairings that trace the novel's troubled efforts to free itself and its heroines from the constraints of the marriage plot which reflect women's inability to do so in real life.

This dissertation argues that paranormal reality television is a form of what some have referred to as “trauma television,” a site of struggle between meanings of family and the violence often found in the hegemonic nuclear family ideal. Programs such as A Haunting and Paranormal State articulate family violence and trauma through a paranormal presence in the heteronormative family home, working to make strange and unfamiliar the domestic and familial milieus in which their episodes take place. Although ghosts, demons, and other entities stand in for violence and trauma taking place in the family, the subgenre’s narratives continue to suggest an oppressive situation and leave the hegemonic family ideal open to critique. Paranormal reality television draws on narrative conventions associated with the paranormal family horror film of the 1970s and early 1980s, particularly The Amityville Horror, The Shining, and Poltergeist, which also articulated family trauma following increased attention to family violence during those decades. Presenting forms of difference (race, sexuality, class, etc.) as threatening, recuperative, or absent in relation to the heteronormative family and privileging the “ghost hunter,” paranormal reality marks a powerful convergence of genres and modes, marking it as a site for articulating violence and trauma in the family.