This research qualitatively explores persistent non-attendance (PN) in a southwest local authority area. Part 1 explores professionals’ conceptualisations of PN, language use and approaches to support. Part 2 explores the lived experience of non-attendance for children and families; how they make sense of the issue, the support they received and the characteristics of support that they found effective. Part 1 findings suggested no one explanation was used to make sense of PN, instead an individualistic approach was used to make sense of cases, using an ecological/systemic framework. This approach therefore influenced the support that was provided by schools. There was consistency in the language used by professionals, influenced by governmental policy and recommendations, with ‘persistent absence’ being the most prevalent term used. Part 2 findings exploration of the lived experiences of families found that PN had had an impacted on all families, in a variety of ways. In line with part 1, no one explanation was put forward for why the PN had occurred, however themes of anxiety and ASD were prevalent. Part 1’s recommendations for practice focus the use of individualised approaches to understanding and support, using an ecological/systemic model. Part 2’s recommendations related to the importance of communication between school and home, and responding to the families individual needs.

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Background: Persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) is a common disorder affecting substantial number of people worldwide. In Australia, allergic rhinitis affects 16% of the population. Increasingly, patients are seeking alternative therapies especially acupuncture for allergic diseases. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis. Methods: Eighty (80) subjects aged between 16 and 70 were randomly assigned to either real or sham acupuncture groups. Each patient received either real or sham acupuncture treatments twice per week for the period of eight weeks. Daily symptom scores by subjects using five-point scale was employed as the primary outcome measure to assess the severity of nasal symptoms every day. The secondary outcome measures were rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and relief medication scores. Relief medication scores were recorded every day by subjects whereas RQLQ assessment was monitored fortnightly throughout the trial and at the end of three-month follow-up period. Results: Compared to the control group, the real acupuncture group demonstrated more improvement of nasal symptoms after eight-week treatment and significant after the follow-up periods. Significant differences between the two groups were also shown in terms of RQLQ. While there were not significantly Relief medication scores were more reduced in real acupuncture group than those in control group, although the differences were not significant. Both real and sham acupuncture treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that acupuncture is potentially an effective and safe option of treatment for persistent allergic rhinitis and it may improve patients' quality of life.

Based in part on the author's thesis (Ph.D.--ETH Zürich, 1996). / Includes bibliographical references and index.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Georgia State University, 2009. / Title from title page (Digital Archive@GSU, viewed June 16, 2010) Sheri Joseph, committee chair; John Holman Josh Russell, committee members. Includes bibliographical references(p. 210).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-71).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Adviser: Ming Hung Wong. Includes bibliographical references.

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ABSTRACT Adenovirus Death Protein (ADP) expression during late stages of a lytic infection releases mature virions to promote viral spread, thus leading to death of the host cell. We sought to investigate ADP expression patterns in persistently infected human lymphocytes cells. We hypothesized that low expression of ADP allows the virus to persist while high expression would promote lytic infection in lymphocytes. Accordingly, we found ADP expressed in low amount in BJAB and KE37 cells, while lytically infected Jurkat cells demonstrated higher ADP expression in both protein and transcript levels. ADP overexpression in persistently infected lymphocytes did not alter the viability of these cells, or their level of ADP expression. In contrast, Jurkat cells infected with an ADP-deleted virus had increased survival and maintained viral DNA for greater than 1-month, suggesting conversion to a persistent infection. Also manipulating ADP expression had minimal impact on the total virus yield from infected lymphocytes.