Across time and place, pregnancy and childbirth rank among the most transformative physical and psychological events in women's lives. Women's childbearing experiences depend not only on their own biology and psyche but also on the nature and quality of care they receive. The nature of the prevailing obstetric care model in the early 21st-century United States has been described as "high-tech, low touch," highlighting its emphasis on using medical technology, as opposed to non-technological care and support, to control unproblematic physical processes on the argument that this approach improves maternal safety and comfort. However, it should be noted that reasonably reliable national data fail to show significant maternal or newborn health gains corresponding to recent, dramatic rises in hospital obstetric procedures such as labor induction, labor acceleration, and cesarean delivery. In this context where medical intervention, necessary or not, assumes an increasingly central role in the childbearing equation, questions of what mothers expect to happen in labor and delivery and how their subsequent birth experiences meet those expectations become paramount. Global numeric indicators cannot capture the quality of women's reactions to childbirth itself, particularly as maternal care shifts in response to consumer interests it presupposes, offering options for comfort, care, and even the possibility of foregoing the labor process altogether. This work reflects the critical need to document early 21st-century U.S. mothers' own words on what they expected to happen in childbirth and later, how labor and delivery went and how it met their expectations. Among this book's most important contributions is its inclusion of extensive interview material drawn from 75 diverse women who spoke freely on their childbirth expectations and subsequent experiences. By itself, the interview material lends an important, though at times unsettling, insider perspective on how labor and delivery can unfold. The narratives also provide a maternal view on how those charged with their care respond during this physically and emotionally demanding transition. In addition, the book provides a timely analysis of scientific data on contemporary maternal care procedures, making plain why so many refer to 21st-century mainstream obstetric care as "technocratic." The scientific data serve as an excellent backdrop for more extensive coverage of the maternal interviews, organized around the distinctions mothers made related to the childbirth pathway on which they anticipated traveling such as natural childbirth in a hospital, planned cesarean delivery, or planned vaginal birth after cesarean. The pathways are in turn discussed in terms of their relationship to an underlying technocratic, humanistic, or holistic maternal care philosophy. The book is targeted towards an academic readership, including scholars and medical professionals with interest in women's health, women's and maternal mental health, women's reproductive health, reproductive technology, medical humanities, medical anthropology, narrative studies, pregnancy, and childbirth.

This overview of prescription drug abuse includes historical background, key concepts, and discussion of the prevalence of drug abuse, treatments, and policy issues implicated in ending the epidemic. Prescription opioid medication abuse has been declared a national crisis by experts in medicine, substance use, public health, and pain management, culminating in a declaration made by the President of the United States that opioid misuse and abuse is a national health emergency. In this comprehensive text, expert scholars analyze and address a wide range of issues in, obstacles to, and potential solutions for this emergency, which caused more than 50,000 deaths in 2016 alone. It covers a variety of topics related to prescription misuse from both clinical and academic perspectives. After an opening containing background material on the most commonly misused medications, chapters examine subgroups engaged in misuse and special medical environments where misuse issues are key. They then cover U.S. policy, perspectives outside the U.S., and theories that may explain the misuse phenomena. This book will serve as a resource for students and professionals in fields related to prescription drug abuse-including psychology, sociology, medicine, and public policy-and is accessible to individuals not trained in these fields. Zooms in on legal and policy issues related to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S., providing insight into current and potential actions to limit the epidemic Describes each prescription drug among the most commonly abused, for what it is prescribed, how it works, economic cost, and the damage that abuse of the drug may cause to both individual health and social wellbeing Identifies each of the most common groups of people who abuse prescription drugs, their motivations for doing so, and the special risks for each Addresses commonly co-abused drugs and the risks of using them concurrently Includes comparative text examining prescription drug abuse in Canada and the United Kingdom

Support workers are key deliverers of care in the UK, often hugely valued by those people they provide care for. Their roles and responsibilities are increasing in the midst of ever-changing health and social care systems. A Handbook for Support Workers in Health and Social Care recognises the contribution of support workers and provides an introduction to the core knowledge, legislation and models of practice required to work across health and social care settings. Covering core person-centred skills that a support worker needs to develop, this textbook looks at knowing and managing yourself, before moving on to understanding your role in the organisation and teamwork. It outlines the relevant legislation and policies, from the Care Act (2014) to confidentiality. Communication, both written and in person, is a central theme, and key values such as compassion and dignity are explored in relation to this. There is a thought-provoking discussion of working with people, covering topics including respecting choices, thinking about risk and safeguarding. The book ends by looking at what it means to be a competent practitioner and the importance of continual professional development. The first textbook introducing the core theory and practice knowledge necessary to work as a support worker in health and social care, it includes case studies, tasks and exercises to help the reader apply their learning. The authors share more than 20 years of experience in the design and delivery of support worker courses in higher education. They deliver continuing professional development, bespoke training and consultation to the health and social care workforce.

Honey typically has a complex chemical and biochemical composition that invariably includes complex sugars, specific proteins, amino acids, phenols, vitamins, and rare minerals. It is reported to be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases, such as those affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, as well as diabetes mellitus and certain types of cancers; however, there is limited literature describing the use of honey in modern medicine. This book provides evidence-based information on the pharmaceutical potential of honey along with its therapeutic applications and precise mechanisms of action. It discusses in detail the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of honey, highlighting the economic and culturally significant medicinal uses of honey and comprehensively reviewing the scientific research on the traditional uses, chemical composition, scientific validation, and general pharmacognostical characteristics. Given its scope, it is a valuable tool for researchers and scientists interested in drug discovery and the chemistry and pharmacology of honey.

Studying for your Nursing Degree is PERFECT for anyone wanting to train to become a nurse or midwife. After reading this fully comprehensive guide you will understand: the structure and culture of higher education, and how nursing fits into it what to expect, and what will be expected of you, as a university student teaching and assessment methods within nursing, so that you can perform to the best of your ability in an academic environment how to manage your nursing studies in an effective way and make the most of the resources available to you. The books in our Critical Study Skills series will help you gain the knowledge, skills and strategies you need to achieve your goals. They provide support in all areas important for university study, including institutional and disciplinary policy and practice, self-management, and research and communication. Packed with tasks and activities to help you improve your learning, including learner autonomy and critical thinking, and to guide you towards reflective practice in your study and work life. Uniquely, this book is written by an experienced education lecturer and an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) lecturer.

Invaluable jargon-free guide for anyone doing a nursing degree, providing study support and helping you to improve your academic writing and referencing skills. Academic Writing and Referencing for your Nursing Degree provides you with a sound knowledge and understanding of: what constitutes good academic writing in nursing a range of strategies for writing successful essays and reports the importance of clarity and coherence in your writing about nursing how to improve your academic style, grammar and punctuation, and formatting and presentation referencing conventions in the field of nursing, and of how to avoid plagiarism. If you are embarking on a university nursing degree, the books in our Critical Study Skills for Nursing series will help you acquire and develop the knowledge, skills and strategies you need to achieve your goals. They provide support in all areas important for university study, including institutional and disciplinary policy and practice, self-management, and research and communication. Tasks and activities are designed to foster aspects of learning which are valued in higher education, including learner autonomy and critical thinking, and to guide you towards reflective practice in your study and work life.

This brand new book is the first of its kind dedicated to exercise and fitness training after stroke. It aims to provide health and exercise professionals, and other suitably qualified individuals, with the necessary information to design and evaluate exercise and fitness programmes for stroke survivors that are safe and effective. The content is based on current evidence and aligned with national clinical guidelines and service frameworks, highlighting the importance of physical activity in self-management after stroke. The book has also been written for stroke survivors and carers who may be interested in physical activity after stroke. Exercise and Fitness Training After Stroke comprehensively discusses the manifestations of stroke and how stroke is managed, the evidence for exercise and fitness training after stroke, how to design, deliver, adapt and evaluate exercise, as well as how to set up exercise services and specialist fitness training programmes for stroke survivors. Includes detailed background in stroke pathology, stroke management and how post-stroke problems may affect the ability to participate in exercise Dedicated to evidence-based exercise prescription with special considerations, cautions and therapy-based strategies for safe practice Covers issues of a professional nature, including national occupational standards, exercise referral pathways, as well as risk assessment and management related to stroke survivors Quality content from a highly qualifi ed, experienced and respected multidisciplinary team

This book presents the state of the art of Internet of Things (IoT) from the perspective of healthcare and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL). It discusses the emerging technologies in healthcare services used for healthcare professionals and patients for enhanced living environments and public health. The topics covered in this book include emerging eHealth IoT applications, Internet of Medical Things, health sensors, and wearable sensors for pervasive and personalized healthcare, and smart homes applications for enhanced health and well-being. The book also presents various ideas for the design and development of IoT solutions for healthcare and AAL. It will be useful for bioengineers and professionals working in the areas of healthcare as well as health informatics.

This clear, helpful and interactive book will help you prepare for and succeed in your nursing and healthcare studies. Supporting anatomy and physiology, drug administration, clinical practice and preparation for assessments, this book will give you the tools to success. Using examples from practice to bring the subjects to life, Skills for Nursing & Healthcare Students is your essential guide to the core skills you will need to master. The book includes guided explanations and interactive exercises that will help you brush up on your maths and study skills and get up-to-speed with anatomical terminology, the basics of the human body, chemistry and cell biology.

The rapid urbanization and industrialization of developing countries across the globe have necessitated for substantial resource utilization and development in the areas of Healthcare, Environment, and Renewable energy. In this context ,this resourceful book serves as a definitive source of information for the recent developments in application of microbial enzymes in various sectors. It covers applications in fermentation processes and their products, extraction and utilisation of enzymes from various sources and their application in health and biomass conversion for production of value added products. Different chapters discuss various areas of bioprospecting in enzyme technology, and describe why these are the mainstays for industrial production of value added products. The rich compilation of the cutting-edge advances and applications of the modern industrial based techniques hold feasible solutions for a range of current issues in enzyme technology. This book will be of particular interest for scientists, academicians, technical resource persons, engineers and members of industry. Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing courses in the area of industrial biotechnology will find the information in the book valuable. General readers having interest towards biofuels, enzyme technology, fermented food and value added products, phytochemicals and phytopharmaceutical products will also find the book appealing. Readers will discover modern concepts of enzymatic bioprocess technology for production of therapeutics and industrial value added products.

Obesity is a continuing issue around the world and in many contexts. The growing number of obese people is an increasing concern for those in the medical profession, and obesity can pose specific challenges in relation to fertility and pregnancy. Patients who are obese require specific considerations and knowledge. Bringing together experts from a variety of specialties to examine the issues and challenges of obesity, this book discusses how obesity affects fertility, reproduction, and pregnancy. Beginning with an exploration of the epidemiology of obesity, further chapters focus on specific issues related to obesity and both male and female reproduction, the complications of obesity during pregnancy and labour, and the long term effects of obesity. This is the most comprehensive resource to examine the topic of obesity and reproductive issues, making it invaluable for medical students, professionals, and researchers in public policy and medicine.
Comprehensive examination of fertility issues arising from male and female obesityClinical knowledge and expertise given to the subjectsIn-depth examination through 47 chapters of a growing, but often overlooked, issue in fertility and pregnancy

This book reports on the latest knowledge concerning critical phenomena arising in fluid-structure interaction due to movement and/or deformation of bodies. The focus of the book is on reporting progress in understanding turbulence and flow control to improve aerodynamic / hydrodynamic performance by reducing drag, increasing lift or thrust and reducing noise under critical conditions that may result in massive separation, strong vortex dynamics, amplification of harmful instabilities (flutter, buffet), and flow -induced vibrations. Theory together with large-scale simulations and experiments have revealed new features of turbulent flow in the boundary layer over bodies and in thin shear layers immediately downstream of separation. New insights into turbulent flow interacting with actively deformable structures, leading to new ways of adapting and controlling the body shape and vibrations to respond to these critical conditions, are investigated. The book covers new features of turbulent flows in boundary layers over wings and in shear layers immediately downstream: studies of natural and artificially generated fluctuations; reduction of noise and drag; and electromechanical conversion topics. Smart actuators as well as how smart designs lead to considerable benefits compared with conventional methods are also extensively discussed. Based on contributions presented at the IUTAM Symposium "Critical Flow Dynamics involving Moving/Deformable Structures with Design applications", held in June 18-22, 2018, in Santorini, Greece, the book provides readers with extensive information about current theories, methods and challenges in flow and turbulence control, and practical knowledge about how to use this information together with smart and bio-inspired design tools to improve aerodynamic and hydrodynamic design and safety.

This book covers some fundamental aspects and frontiers in non-equilibrium physics and soft matter research. Apart from the basic knowledge on nonlinear statistic physics, dynamics, computer simulations, and main approaches and emerging systems in soft matter research, particular attention is devoted to new conceptual flexible functional materials and the enriching areas, such as silk meso-molecular materials, molecular gels, liquid crystals, flexible electronics and new types of catalysis, etc. One of the main characteristics of this book is to start with the structure formation dynamics and the correlation between the structures and macroscopic performance. This lays down the foundation for the mesoscopic materials design and functionalization. The book is intended for upper undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers who are interested in soft matter researches. As one of main references, the basic principles and technologies of computer simulations and experimental methods adopted in soft matter research are also explained. Illustrations and tables are included in this book to improve the readability, and examples and exercises are added to help understanding.

This book introduces various 3D printing systems, biomaterials, and cells for organ printing. In view of the latest applications of several 3D printing systems, their advantages and disadvantages are also discussed. A basic understanding of the entire spectrum of organ printing provides pragmatic insight into the mechanisms, methods, and applications of this discipline. Organ printing is being applied in the tissue engineering field with the purpose of developing tissue/organ constructs for the regeneration of both hard (bone, cartilage, osteochondral) and soft tissues (heart). There are other potential application areas including tissue/organ models, disease/cancer models, and models for physiology and pathology, where in vitro 3D multicellular structures developed by organ printing are valuable.