Predicting positive and negative impacts of cancer among long-term endometrial cancer survivors

OBJECTIVE Although the survival outcomes among women diagnosed with endometrial cancer are very favorable, little is known about the long-term impact of their cancer experience. This study identifies the extent of positive and negative impacts of cancer and factors associated with this, amongst long-term survivors of endometrial cancer. METHODS Australian women diagnosed with endometrial cancer (N=632) were sent questionnaires at the time of diagnosis and 3-5 years later. Hierarchical multiple regression models were used to examine whether a range of variables at diagnosis/treatment predicted subsequent scores on the Impact of Cancer Scale, which examines positive (e.g. health awareness) and negative (e.g. appearance concerns) impacts amongst cancer survivors. RESULTS Overall, women had a higher mean score for the positive than negative impact scales (M=3.5 versus M=2.5, respectively). An intermediate grade of endometrial cancer, a prior diagnosis of cancer and lower levels of education were significant, but weak, predictors of higher scores on the positive impact scale. Higher scores on the negative impact scale were predicted by a higher grade of cancer, poor physical and mental health, a younger age, being single or having lower levels of education. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates that factors that predict positive impact in cancer survivors differ to those that predict negative impact, suggesting that interventions to optimize cancer survivors' quality of life will need to be multi-dimensional, and this supports the need for tailored intervention.

Time pressure and coworker support mediate the curvilinear relationship between age and occupational well-being

As the proportion of older employees in the workforce is growing, researchers have become increasingly interested in the association between age and occupational well-being. The curvilinear nature of relationships between age and job satisfaction and between age and emotional exhaustion is well-established in the literature, with employees in their late 20s to early 40s generally reporting lower levels of occupational well-being than younger and older employees. However, the mechanisms underlying these curvilinear relationships are so far not well understood due to a lack of studies testing mediation effects. Based on an integration of role theory and research from the adult development and career literatures, this study examined time pressure, work–home conflict, and coworker support as mediators of the relationships between age and job satisfaction and between age and emotional exhaustion. Data came from 771 employees between 17 and 74 years of age in the construction industry. Results showed that employees in their late 20s to early 40s had lower job satisfaction and higher emotional exhaustion than younger and older employees. Time pressure and coworker support fully mediated both the U-shaped relationship between age and job satisfaction and the inversely U-shaped relationship between age and emotional exhaustion. These findings suggest that organizational interventions may help increase the relatively low levels of occupational well-being in certain age groups.

Lung recruitment and endotracheal suction in ventilated preterm infants measured with electrical impedance tomography

Aims Although suctioning is a standard airway maintenance procedure, there are significant associated risks, such as loss of lung volume due to high negative suction pressures. This study aims to assess the extent and duration of change in end-expiratory level (EEL) resulting from endotracheal tube (ETT) suction and to examine the relationship between EEL and regional lung ventilation in ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Methods A prospective observational clinical study of the effect of ETT suction on 20 non-muscle-relaxed preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on conventional mechanical ventilation was conducted in a neonatal intensive care unit. Ventilation distribution was measured with regional impedance amplitudes and EEL using electrical impedance tomography. Results ETT suction resulted in a significant increase in EEL post-suction (P < 0.01). Regionally, anterior EEL decreased and posterior EEL increased post-suction, suggesting heterogeneity. Tidal volume was significantly lower in volume-guarantee ventilation compared with pressure-controlled ventilation (P = 0.04). Conclusions ETT suction in non-muscle-relaxed and ventilated preterm infants with RDS results in significant lung volume increase that is maintained for at least 90 min. Regional differences in distribution of ventilation with ETT suction suggest that the behaviour of the lung is heterogeneous in nature.

The influence of maternal infant feeding practices and beliefs on the expression of food neophobia in toddlers

Food neophobia is a highly heritable trait characterized by the rejection of foods that are novel or unknown and potentially limits dietary variety, with lower intake and preference particularly for fruits and vegetables. Understanding non-genetic (environmental) factors that may influence the expression of food neophobia is essential to improving children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables and encouraging the adoption of healthier diets. The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal infant feeding beliefs (at four months) were associated with the expression of food neophobia in toddlers and whether controlling feeding practices mediated this relationship. Participants were 244 first-time mothers (M = 30.4, SD = 5.1 years) allocated to the control group of the NOURISH randomized controlled trial. The relationships between infant feeding beliefs (Infant Feeding Questionnaire) at four months and controlling child feeding practices (Child Feeding Questionnaire) and food neophobia (Child Food Neophobia Scale) at 24 months were tested using correlational and multiple linear regression models (adjusted for significant covariates). Higher maternal Concern about infant under-eating and becoming underweight at four months was associated with higher child food neophobia at two years. Similarly, lower Awareness of infant hunger and satiety cues was associated with higher child food neophobia. Both associations were significantly mediated by mothers’ use of Pressure to eat. Intervening early to promote positive feeding practices to mothers may help reduce the use of controlling practices as children develop. Further research that can further elucidate the bi-directional nature of the mother-child feeding relationship is still required.

Crystalline Si nanoparticles below crystallization threshold : effects of collisional heating in non-thermal atmospheric-pressure microplasmas

Nucleation and growth of highly crystalline silicon nanoparticles in atmospheric-pressure low-temperature microplasmas at gas temperatures well below the Si crystallization threshold and within a short (100 μs) period of time are demonstrated and explained. The modeling reveals that collision-enhanced ion fluxes can effectively increase the heat flux on the nanoparticle surface and this heating is controlled by the ion density. It is shown that nanoparticles can be heated to temperatures above the crystallization threshold. These combined experimental and theoretical results confirm the effective heating and structure control of Si nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure and low gas temperatures.

Atmospheric pressure plasmas : infection control and bacterial responses

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) is a recent, cutting-edge antimicrobial treatment. It has the potential to be used as an alternative to traditional treatments such as antibiotics and as a promoter of wound healing, making it a promising tool in a range of biomedical applications with particular importance for combating infections. A number of studies show very promising results for APP-mediated killing of bacteria, including removal of biofilms of pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the mode of action of APP and the resulting bacterial response are not fully understood. Use of a variety of different plasma-generating devices, different types of plasma gases and different treatment modes makes it challenging to show reproducibility and transferability of results. This review considers some important studies in which APP was used as an antibacterial agent, and specifically those that elucidate its mode of action, with the aim of identifying common bacterial responses to APP exposure. The review has a particular emphasis on mechanisms of interactions of bacterial biofilms with APP.

Designing atmospheric-pressure plasma sources for surface engineering of nanomaterials

Atmospheric-pressure plasma processing techniques emerge as efficient and convenient tools to engineer a variety of nanomaterials for advanced applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology. This work presents different methods, including using a quasi-sinusoidal high-voltage generator, a radio-frequency power supply, and a uni-polar pulse generator, to generate atmospheric-pressure plasmas in the jet or dielectric barrier discharge configurations. The applicability of the atmospheric-pressure plasma is exemplified by the surface modification of nanoparticles for polymeric nanocomposites. Dielectric measurements reveal that representative nanocomposites with plasma modified nanoparticles exhibit notably higher dielectric breakdown strength and a significantly extended lifetime.

Reinforced insulation properties of epoxy resin/SiO2 nanocomposites by atmospheric pressure plasma modification

Nanocomposite dielectrics hold a promising future for the next generation of insulation materials because of their excellent physical, chemical, and dielectric properties. In the presented study, we investigate the use of plasma processing technology to further enhance the dielectric performance of epoxy resin/SiO2 nanocomposite materials. The SiO2 nanoparticles are treated with atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma prior to being added into the epoxy resin host. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results reveal the effects of the plasma process on the surface functional groups of the treated nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show that the plasma treatment appreciably improves the dispersion uniformity of nanoparticles in the host polymer. With respect to insulation performance, the epoxy/plasma-treated SiO2 specimen shows a 29% longer endurance time than the epoxy/untreated SiO2 nanocomposite under electrical aging. The Weibull plots of the dielectric breakdown field intensity suggest that the breakdown strength of the nanocomposite with the plasma pre-treatment on the nanoparticles is improved by 23.3%.

Dielectric performance of polymer nanocomposites synthesized by atmospheric-pressure plasma-treated silica nanoparticles

In this study, atmospheric-pressure plasmas were applied to modify the surface of silane-coated silica nanoparticles. Subsequently nanocomposites were synthesized by incorporating plasma-treated nanoparticles into an epoxy resin matrix. Electrical testing showed that such novel dielectric materials obtained high partial discharge resistance, high dielectric breakdown strength, and enhanced endurance under highly stressed electric field. Through spectroscopic and microscopic analysis, we found surface groups of nanoparticles were activated and radicals were created after the plasma treatment. Moreover, a uniform dispersion of nanoparticles in nanocomposites was observed. It was expected that the improved dielectric performance of the nanocomposites can attribute to stronger chemical bonds formed between surface groups of plasma-treated nanoparticles and molecules in the matrix. This simple yet effective and environmentally friendly approach aims to synthesize the next generation of high-performance nanocomposite dielectric insulation materials for applications in high-voltage power systems.

Lawyering and Positive Professional Identities

Lawyering and Positive Professional Identities aims to help law students successfully navigate the demands of law studies and legal practice through the development of positive professional legal identities. It does this by focusing on the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for law students to be motivated and engaged learners, and psychologically healthy individuals. The text will fill an important gap for many law schools seeking to enact the threshold learning outcomes for law by addressing these important topics in their curricula. It is a valuable guide for all law students who wish to maximise their success and chances of thriving at law school and beyond. Positive lawyering knowledge and practice are central themes of this book, with a particular emphasis on lawyers’ roles as upholders of the rule of law, as dispute resolvers and as ethical professionals. Throughout, the authors provide practical, experience-based advice on the development of core skills for legal education and practice.

Silica nanoparticles treated by cold atmospheric-pressure plasmas improve the dielectric performance of organic–inorganic nanocomposites

We report on the application of cold atmospheric-pressure plasmas to modify silica nanoparticles to enhance their compatibility with polymer matrices. Thermally nonequilibrium atmospheric-pressure plasma is generated by a high-voltage radio frequency power source operated in the capacitively coupled mode with helium as the working gas. Compared to the pure polymer and the polymer nanocomposites with untreated SiO2, the plasma-treated SiO2–polymer nanocomposites show higher dielectric breakdown strength and extended endurance under a constant electrical stress. These improvements are attributed to the stronger interactions between the SiO2 nanoparticles and the surrounding polymer matrix after the plasma treatment. Our method is generic and can be used in the production of high-performance organic–inorganic functional nanocomposites.

Kinetics of low-pressure, low-temperature graphene growth : toward single-layer, single-crystalline structure

Graphene grown on metal catalysts with low carbon solubility is a highly competitive alternative to exfoliated and other forms of graphene, yet a single-layer, single-crystal structure remains a challenge because of the large number of randomly oriented nuclei that form grain boundaries when stitched together. A kinetic model of graphene nucleation and growth is developed to elucidate the effective controls of the graphene island density and surface coverage from the onset of nucleation to the full monolayer formation in low-pressure, low-temperature CVD. The model unprecedentedly involves the complete cycle of the elementary gas-phase and surface processes and shows a precise quantitative agreement with the recent low-energy electron diffraction measurements and also explains numerous parameter trends from a host of experimental reports. These agreements are demonstrated for a broad pressure range as well as different combinations of precursor gases and supporting catalysts. The critical role of hydrogen in controlling the graphene nucleation and monolayer formation is revealed and quantified. The model is generic and can be extended to even broader ranges of catalysts and precursor gases/pressures to enable the as yet elusive effective control of the crystalline structure and number of layers of graphene using the minimum amounts of matter and energy.

Discussion on full-scale internal pressure measurements

The wind loading on most structural elements is made up of both an external and internal pressure. Internal pressures are also important for the design of naturally ventilated buildings. The internal pressure is the interaction between the external pressure propagating through the building envelope and any internal plant causing building pressurization. Although the external pressure field can be well defined through a series of wind tunnel tests, modeling complexities makes accurate prediction of the internal pressure difficult. For commercial testing for the determination of design cladding pressures, an internal pressure coefficient is generally assumed from wind loading standards. Several theories regarding the propagation of internal pressures through single and multiple dominant openings have been proposed for small and large flexible buildings (Harris (1990), Holmes, (1979), Liu & Saathoff (1981 ), Vickery (1986, 1994), Vickery & Bloxham (1992), Vickery & Georgiou (1991))...

Solitary filamentary structures and nanosecond dynamics in atmospheric-pressure plasmas driven by tailored dc pulses

Nanosecond dynamics of two separated discharge cycles in an asymmetric dielectric barrier discharge is studied using time-resolved current and voltage measurements synchronized with high-speed (∼5 ns) optical imaging. Nanosecond dc pulses with tailored raise and fall times are used to generate solitary filamentary structures (SFSs) during the first cycle and a uniform glow during the second. The SFSs feature ∼1.5 mm thickness, ∼1.9 A peak current, and a lifetime of several hundred nanoseconds, at least an order of magnitude larger than in common microdischarges. This can be used in alternating localized and uniform high-current plasma treatments in various applications.

Rapid, simultaneous activation of thin nanowire growth in low-temperature, low-pressure chemically active plasmas

Multiscale numerical modeling of the species balance and transport in the ionized gas phase and on the nanostructured solid surface complemented by the heat exchange model is used to demonstrate the possibility of minimizing the Gibbs-Thompson effect in low-temperature, low-pressure chemically active plasma-assisted growth of uniform arrays of very thin Si nanowires, impossible otherwise. It is shown that plasma-specific effects drastically shorten and decrease the dispersion of the incubation times for the nucleation of nanowires on non-uniform Au catalyst nanoparticle arrays. The fast nucleation makes it possible to avoid a common problem of small catalyst nanoparticle burying by amorphous silicon. These results explain a multitude of experimental observations on chemically active plasma-assisted Si nanowire growth and can be used for the synthesis of a range of inorganic nanowires for environmental, biomedical, energy conversion, and optoelectronic applications.