GABAergic interneurons in the basolateral complex (BLC) of the amygdala are a part of the emotional-learning circuitry of the brain and receive excitatory inputs from all sensory modalities via cortex and thalamus. Although the BLC, which is made up of the lateral amygdala (LA), basal amygdala (BA) and accessory basal nucleus, is under the influence of a strong inhibition brought about by local interneurons, little is known about the diversity, characteristics and functioning of these interneurons. In this study, I have characterised the BLC interneuron population using a transgenic mouse model in which enhanced green fluorescent protein has been tagged to the GAD67 promoter. This promoter is specifically expressed in all GABAergic interneurons, enabling us to visualise interneurons under UV light. Whole-cell recordings were made from GAD67 interneurons in the BLA to study their membrane and synaptic properties. On the basis of their firing properties, interneurons in the BLC were classified into six distinct groups. The calcium-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin and parvalbumin were found to be expressed differently in the LA and BA interneurons, with the majority of the interneurons in the LA expressing calretinin, whereas those in the BA mostly expressed parvalbumin. We also found diversity in the expression of postsynaptic glutamate receptors in the BLC. Long-term potentiation induced at the interneurons was specific to the cortical inputs in the LA. LTP was expressed only in interneurons that either lacked NMDA receptors or had NMDA receptors with fast decay kinetics. This form of LTP was mediated by calcium-permeable AMPA receptors and required a postsynaptic calcium rise for its induction This study shows that the interneurons in the BLC are a heterogenous population with respect to the expression of calcium-binding proteins, axonal morphology, synaptic and membrane properties. This heterogeneity in interneuron population may be essential for the specialised roles various types of interneurons play in the functioning of the amygdala and in emotional learning.

This thesis examines the impact of announcements of syndicated loans on the share prices of borrowing firms. I use a sample of 5,465 loan observations reported in the International Financing Review Platinum database to study this impact. Event study methodology is used. My overall results show significantly positive wealth effects on the borrowing firms. However, when I partition my data set into revolving credit agreements, term loans and hybrid loans, I find that the results are driven primarily by revolving credit agreements. I also observe that the size of the event window plays an important role in identifying the wealth effects for the borrowers. A five-day event window (-2, +2) shows share price response to revolving credit announcements to be significantly positive. A three-day event window (-1, +1) reveals that announcements are statistically positive for revolving credit agreements and statistically negative for term loan announcements. My results are consistent with previous studies in this area. I also distinguish between financial press announcements and information provider (IFR) announcements to cater for the potential for reporting bias. I find that both the IFR and financial press announcements are significant for the five-day window, but only the financial press results are significant for the three-day window. My study is unique in that I differentiate the impact of different sources of information on the market reaction to borrower share price. In addition to the examination of the wealth effect, I also use the structure of the loans to examine the uniqueness of bank loans and their ability to provide financial slack. Specifically, I examine whether revolving credit loans or term loans or hybrid loans make bank loans unique and their ability to provide financial slack. I observe that out of the three structures of bank loan, only revolving credit loans allow the borrower to more precisely match the funds acquired with the firm’s investment needs and to market time by borrowing at times when financing costs are attractive. Revolving credit loans are positively valued by the market both initially and over the longer term. Bank loans reduce information asymmetry, but the renegotiation characteristics of revolving credit loans allow borrowers to exploit changes in the interest rate environment, thus providing support for the market timing theory of capital structure. In contrast to puzzling results of previous studies, I present evidence of long-term positive performance following bank loans.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Mar. 11, 2008). Directed by Jennifer L. Etnier; submitted to the School of Health and Human Performance. Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-43).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Nursing. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2007. / "A dissertation in nursing." Advisor: Katharine Smith. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed Jan. 2, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-168). Online version of the print edition.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wayne State University, 2007. / Adviser: Gail A. Jensen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada), 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Louisville, 2009. / Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Human Resource Education. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Western Kentucky University, 2009. College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Vita. "May 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-124).

The purpose of this study was, first, to further our understanding of the experience of dying in a long-term care (LTC) facility from the perspective of family members and second, to identify the relationships between the various factors which may influence satisfaction with end-of-life care. Using a sequential mixed methods design, a convenience sample of 87 family members completed a survey interview using a modified version of the Toolkit of Instruments to Measure End-of-life Care (TIME) Nursing Home Version in the first phase of the study. Findings from the parametric and non-parametric analyses indicated that family satisfaction with end-of-life care was best predicted by contact and communication with nursing staff, feeling that care provided at the end of life met expectations, staff providing consistent care, feeling that the health care aide listened to their concerns about care and that respondents felt they had received enough emotional support. Being transferred to hospital in the last month of life, dying in a place other than the LTC facility, and respondent age and employment status were all associated with significant mean differences in satisfaction scores. In the second phase, three focus groups were conducted to further explore areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with end-of-life care. Focus groups provided confirmation of the findings of the first phase of the study and were instrumental in developing a list of ten recommendations for improvements in end-of-life care delivery. Recommendations for future research are made based on the study results. / October 2007

Objective: Chronic physical health problems are on the rise. Psychological interventions can play a role in helping people cope with the challenges that long term physical conditions brings. This thesis systematically reviewed the literature for group psychological interventions. Following this, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group intervention for people living with a range of long term physical conditions was designed and evaluated. Methods: Key databases were searched for relevant randomized-controlled studies. Papers that met inclusion criteria were quality assessed, and a meta-analysis was conducted. Participants with chronic physical health conditions were invited to an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group (n=53). Measures were completed at assessment, pre, post and 3-month follow-up. These assessed anxiety and depression symptoms, health perceptions, values-based living and psychological flexibility. Assessment to pre-intervention served as a within-participant control. Results: 22 relevant studies were retrieved, with 18 rated as acceptable or high quality and 14 included in a meta-analysis. The majority of studies reported interventions as efficacious at reducing mental health problems, though effect sizes were weaker when compared to active controls such as education. In the Acceptance and Commitment therapy group, depression and anxiety symptoms reduced significantly from pre to post, compared to control period. Conclusions: Group psychological interventions may be beneficial for people with physical health problems. In particular, group-based ACT interventions may be effective with this population and can be delivered transdiagnostically for a range of physical conditions.

Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of ventilator-dependent children being discharged from the hospital. There is a wealth of literature describing the issues surrounding the complex discharge process required for these children however there has been limited exploration of the experiences of parents during their child’s admission to hospital. Interpretive phenomenology based on Heideggerian research philosophy was used to explore the lived experiences of hospital for parents of children commenced on invasive long-term ventilation (I-LTV). Purposive sampling was utilised to select parents of children who had been cared for at one NHS hospital trust. Eight in-depth, unstructured qualitative interviews involving sixteen parents (eight couples) were conducted over a six month period during 2014 to gather data about the parent’s recollections of the time spent with their child in hospital. Most children were cared for on both the paediatric intensive care (PIC) and high dependency units (HDU) with the majority having been discharged from hospital at the time of the interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a modified van Manen (1990) approach. Thematic analysis provided an insight in to the lived world of the parents caring for their technology-dependent child, with two over-arching concepts of uncertainty and transitions characterising the parents’ journeys. The findings revealed multiple transitions in a world of complexity and uncertainty with four main themes emerging from the data; 1) Going in to the Unknown, 2) This wasn’t what we wanted, 3) Safer at Home, and 4) Clawing every little bit back. Parents were required to develop coping strategies to deal with the transitions and uncertainties experienced and establish new roles and identities as they became experts in caring for their technology-dependent child. As a result of the findings a new framework combining the concepts of uncertainty and transitions was derived identifying areas for consideration including: health-illness, psycho-social, situational and developmental transitions together with existential, biographical, environmental, relational and temporal uncertainties. Strategies for facilitating coping and adaptation towards healthier outcomes were identified and a strong argument emerged for the development of more effective management of transitions and uncertainty delivered within an environment more conducive to family-centred care.