Illness perception clusters at diagnosis predict psychological distress among women with breast cancer at 6 months post-diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aimed to examine the extent to which illness perceptions and coping strategies among women diagnosed with breast cancer explain psychological distress at diagnosis and at 6?months post diagnosis relative to demographic and illness-related variables.

METHODS:

Women were recruited to the study shortly after diagnosis. A total of 90 women completed study materials (Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, the Cancer Coping Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) at time 1. The same questionnaires were sent approximately 6?months later to those who had consented at time 1, and completed questionnaires were returned by 72 women.

RESULTS:

Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of respondents who reported a similar profile of illness perception scores. Regression analysis demonstrated that one of these clusters was more likely to experience psychological distress than the other both at diagnosis and at 6?months post diagnosis. Illness perception cluster membership and positive focus type coping were the most important and consistent predictors of lower psychological distress at diagnosis and at 6?months post diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Illness perceptions remained relatively stable over the study period, and therefore we are unable to clarify whether changes in illness cognitions are associated with a corresponding change in psychological symptoms. Future research should evaluate the impact on psychological distress of interventions specifically designed to modify illness cognitions among women with breast cancer.

Identifying functional stakeholder clusters to maximise communication for the ecosystem approach to fisheries management

Interaction with ecological models can improve stakeholder participation in fisheries management. Problems exist in efficiently communicating outputs to stakeholders and an objective method of structuring stakeholder differences is lacking. This paper aims to inform the design of a multi-user communication interface for fisheries management by identifying functional stakeholder groups. Intuitive categorisation of stakeholders, derived from survey responses, is contrasted with an Evidence-Based method derived from analysis of stakeholder literature. Intuitive categorisation relies on interpretation and professional judgement when categorising stakeholders among conventional stakeholder groups. Evidence-Based categorisation quantitatively characterises each stakeholder with a vector of four management objective interest-strength values (Yield, Employment, Profit and Ecosystem Preservation). Survey respondents agreed little in forming intuitive groups and the groups were poorly defined and heterogeneous in interests. In contrast the Evidence-Based clusters were well defined and largely homogeneous, so more useful for identifying functional relations with model outputs. The categorisations lead to two different clusterings of stakeholders and suggest unhelpful stereotyping of stakeholders may occur with the Intuitive categorisation method. Stakeholder clusters based on literature-evidence show a high degree of common interests among clusters and is encouraging for those seeking to maximise dialogue and consensus forming. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Exploring the free energy surfaces of clusters using reconnaissance metadynamics

A new approach is proposed for exploring the low-energy structures of small to medium-sized aggregates of atoms and molecules. This approach uses the recently proposed reconnaissance metadynamics method [G. A. Tribello, M. Ceriotti, and M. Parrinello. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107(41), 17509 (2010)] in tandem with collective variables that describe the average structure of the coordination sphere around the atoms/molecules. We demonstrate this method on both Lennard-Jones and water clusters and show how it is able to quickly find the global minimum in the potential energy surface, while exploring the finite temperature free energy surface. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3628676]

In situ FTIR spectroscopy studies on electrochemical redox processes of high nuclearity osmium carbonyl clusters

The electrochemical redox processes of two high nuclearity osmium carbonyl clusters [(PhP)N[OsC(CO) ]·PPN (1) and Os(CO) (6) have been studied by electrochemical in situ FTIR. The five oxidation states of 1, i.e., [OsC(CO)], have been characterized. There are no significant structural changes for these species. Hence, the ability of this decanuclear cluster to act as an electron reservoir has been demonstrated. The structural rearrangement associated with the two-electron reduction of bicapped tetrahedral 6 to octahedral dianion [Os(CO)] and [Os(CO)] tetraanion has also been investigated. © 1996 American Chemical Society.

Hybrid Polyoxovanadates: Anion-Influenced Formation of Nanoscopic Cages and Supramolecular Assemblies of Asymmetric Clusters

Organoarsonate-functionalized polyoxovanadates form upon the reduction of vanadates(V) in aqueous systems, whereby the underlying condensation reactions are influenced by the nature of the employed acid. In the presence of Cl− ions that derive from hydrochloric acid, a tetradecanuclear cage [VIV14O16(OH)8(O3AsC6H4-4-NH2)10]4– is obtained. When nitric acid is used, a condensed, decanuclear complex [V10O18(O3AsC6H4-4-NH2)7(DMF)2]5– forms. The latter organizes into a hexagonal packing arrangement in the solid state.

Self-assembly of hybrid organic–inorganic polyoxovanadates: functionalised mixed-valent clusters and molecular cages’

Herein we report the intra- and inter-molecular assembly of a {V5O9} subunit. This mixed-valent structural motif can be stabilised as [V5O9(L1–3)4]5−/9− (1–3) by a range of organoarsonate ligands (L1–L3) whose secondary functionalities influence its packing arrangement within the crystal structures. Variation of the reaction conditions results in the dodecanuclear cage structure [V12O14(OH)4(L1)10]4− (4) where two modified convex building units are linked via two dimeric {O4VIV(OH)2VIVO4} moieties. Bi-functional phosphonate ligands, L4–L6 allow the intramolecular connectivity of the {V5O9} subunit to give hybrid capsules [V10O18(L4–6)4]10− (5–7). The dimensions of the electrophilic cavities of the capsular entities are determined by the incorporated ligand type. Mass spectrometry experiments confirm the stability of the complexes in solution. We investigate and model the temperature-dependent magnetic properties of representative complexes 1, 4, 6 and 7 and provide preliminary cell-viability studies of three different cancer cell lines with respect to Na8H2[6]·36H2O and Na8H2[7]·2DMF·29H2O.

Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Polyoxometalates: Functionalization of VIV/ VV Nanosized Clusters to Produce Molecular Capsules

Functionalization of polyoxovanadate clusters using phosphonate and arsonate ligands results in molecular capsules (see structure; green V, purple P, red O, black C). Through the use of extended homologous ligands, these hybrid organic-inorganic capsules can be successively elongated into tubular molecules.

Tailoring ionic liquid catalysts: structure, acidity and catalytic activity of protonic ionic liquids based on anionic clusters, [(HSO4)(H2SO4)x]− (x = 0, 1, or 2)

Aiming at inexpensive Brønsted-acidic ionic liquids, suitable for industrial-scale catalysis, a family of protonic ionic liquids based on nitrogen bases and sulfuric acid has been developed. Variation of the molar ratio of sulfuric acid, χH2SO4, was used to tune acidity. The liquid structure was studied using 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies, revealing the existence of hydrogen-bonded clusters, [(HSO4)(H2SO4)]−, for χH2SO4 > 0.50. Acidity, quantified by Gutmann Acceptor Number (AN), was found to be closely related to the liquid structure. The ionic liquids were employed as acid catalysts in a model reaction; Fischer esterification of acetic acid with 1-butanol. The reaction rate depended on two factors; for χH2SO4 > 0.50, the key parameter was acidity (expressed as AN value), while for χH2SO4 > 0.50 it was the mass transport (solubility of starting materials in the ionic liquid phase). Building on this insight, the ionic liquid catalyst and reaction conditions have been chosen. Conversion values of over 95% were achieved under exceptionally mild conditions, and using an inexpensive ionic liquid, which could be recycled up to eight times without diminution in conversion or selectivity. It has been demonstrated how structural studies can underpin rational design and development of an ionic liquid catalyst, and in turn lead to a both greener and economically viable process.

Flexible fault ride through strategy for wind farm clusters in power systems with high wind power penetration

This paper investigates a flexible fault ride through strategy for power systems in China with high wind power penetration. The strategy comprises of adaptive fault ride through requirements and maximum power restrictions of the wind farms with weak fault ride through capabilities. The slight faults and moderate faults with high probability are the main defending objective of the strategy. The adaptive fault ride through requirement in the strategy consists of two sub fault ride through requirements, a temporary slight voltage ride through requirement corresponding to a slight fault incident, with a moderate voltage ride through requirement corresponding to a moderate fault. The temporary overloading capability of the wind farm is reflected in both requirements to enhance the capability to defend slight faults and to avoid tripping when the crowbar is disconnected after moderate faults are cleared. For those wind farms that cannot meet the adaptive fault ride through requirement, restrictions are put on the maximum power output. Simulation results show that the flexible fault ride through strategy increases the fault ride through capability of the wind farm clusters and reduces the wind power curtailment during faults.

Unidirectional suppression of hydrogen oxidation on oxidized platinum clusters

Solar-driven water splitting to produce hydrogen may be an ideal solution for global energy and environment issues. Among the various photocatalytic systems, platinum has been widely used to co-catalyse the reduction of protons in water for hydrogen evolution. However, the undesirable hydrogen oxidation reaction can also be readily catalysed by metallic platinum, which limits the solar energy conversion efficiency in artificial photosynthesis. Here we report that the unidirectional suppression of hydrogen oxidation in photocatalytic water splitting can be fulfilled by controlling the valence state of platinum; this platinum-based cocatalyst in a higher oxidation state can act as an efficient hydrogen evolution site while suppressing the undesirable hydrogen back-oxidation. The findings in this work may pave the way for developing other high-efficientcy platinum-based catalysts for photocatalysis, photoelectrochemistry, fuel cells and water-gas shift reactions.