Edinburgh Napier University

About: Edinburgh Napier University is a education organization based out in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2665 authors who have published 6859 publications receiving 175272 citations.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Associated Comorbidity During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ireland: A Population-Based Study.

Abstract: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as it relates to individuals' experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be determined. This study was conducted to determine rates of COVID-19-related PTSD in the Irish general population, the level of comorbidity with depression and anxiety, and the sociodemographic risk factors associated with COVID-19-related PTSD. A nationally representative sample of adults from the general population of the Republic of Ireland (N = 1,041) completed self-report measures of all study variables. The rate of COVID-19-related PTSD was 17.7% (n = 184), 95% CI [15.35%, 19.99%], and there was a high level of comorbidity with generalized anxiety (49.5%) and depression (53.8%). Meeting the diagnostic requirement for COVID-19-related PTSD was associated with younger age, male sex, living in a city, living with children, moderate and high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, and screening positive for anxiety or depression. Posttraumatic stress symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic are common in the general population. Our results show that health professionals responsible for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic should expect to routinely encounter symptoms and concerns related to posttraumatic stress.

Regulation of macrophage IL-12 synthesis by leishmania phosphoglycans

Abstract: It is now generally accepted that IFN-gamma, secreted by Th1 cells, is the most potent cytokine leading to macrophage activation and host resistance against infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania. It is also established that IL-12 is a critical cytokine involved in the differentiation and expansion of Th1 cells. Therefore, the ability of Leishmania parasites to actively suppress IL-12 production by host macrophages may be an important strategy for parasite survival. Here we report that a major parasite cell surface molecule, phosphoglycan (PG), of Leishmania could selectively inhibit the synthesis of IL-12(p40, p70) by activated murine macrophages. Furthermore, synthetic PG (sPG) was able to inhibit IL-12 release in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition was dependent on the galactose(beta1-4)mannose(alpha1)-PO4 repeating units and not the glycophosphoinositol lipid anchor of lipophosphoglycan. At the concentration used, sPG had no effect on the release of TNF-alpha or IL-6 in activated macrophages. The inhibition of IL-12(p40) production was at the transcriptional level, but was not mediated through NF kappaB inhibition. These data demonstrate that PG may be an important molecule for the establishment and survival of the parasite in permissive hosts.

A comparison of multivariate outlier detection methods for clinical laboratory safety data

Abstract: Summary. During a clinical trial of a new treatment, a large number of variables are measured to monitor the safety of the treatment. It is important to detect outlying observations which may indicate that something abnormal is happening. To do this effectively, techniques are needed for finding multivariate outliers. Six techniques of this sort are described and illustrated on a typical laboratory safety data set. Their properties are investigated more thoroughly by means of a simulation study. The results show that some methods do better than others depending on whether or not the data set is multivariate normal, the dimension of the data set, the type of outlier, the proportion of outliers in a data set and the degree of contamination, i.e. 'outlyingness'. The results indicate that it is desirable to run a battery of multivariate methods on a particular data set in an attempt to highlight possible outliers.

Young people, biographical narratives and the life grid: young people’s accounts of parental substance use:

Abstract: Research into potentially sensitive issues with young people presents numerous methodological and ethical challenges. While recent studies have highlighted the advantages of task-based activities in research with young people, the literature on life history research provides few suggestions as to effective and appropriate research tools for encouraging young people to tell their stories. This article explores the contribution that may be made to such research by the life grid, a visual tool for mapping important life events against the passage of time and prompting wide-ranging discussion. Critical advantages of the life grid in qualitative research include: its visual element, which can help to engage interviewer and interviewee in a process of constructing and reflecting on a concrete life history record; its role in creating a more relaxed research encounter supportive of the respondent’s ‘voice’; and facilitating the discussion of sensitive issues. In addition, the way in which use of the grid anchors...

Using curves to enhance parallel coordinate visualisations

Abstract: We introduce a number of refinements to the parallel coordinates visualisation metaphor for multidimensional data. Firstly, the traditional set of polylines are replaced with a collection of smooth curves across the attribute axes, allowing individual data elements to be traced under certain limitations; normally impossible due to the 'crossing problem'. Then the notion of spreading out points on axes with a few discrete values is introduced, which leads onto a simple focus+context technique when the user selects values on such axes.