Herbicide-free establishment of short rotation agroforestry systems with different tree species - results from an organic field trial in Bavaria

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adolescents' and young adults' experiences of childhood cancer: descriptions of daily life 5 years after diagnosis

Background: Survivors of childhood cancer are a growing population in society. These young people have a high risk of developing chronic health problems with a potential strong impact on their lives. How a childhood cancer experience affects survivors in adolescence has only been studied to a limited extent, and an increased understanding of this young group is needed to improve follow-up care. Objective: The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of how childhood cancer affects the lives of survivors by exploring adolescents' and young adults' views of what it is like living with this experience. Methods: Fifty-nine people 11-22 years old were interviewed a median of five years after diagnosis (response rate 66%). Data was collected through telephone interviews and analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results: Three groups of informants were identified according to their descriptions of influence on daily life: ‘Feeling like anyone else’ (the informants who described that the cancer experience had almost no influence on current life) (49%), ‘Feeling almost like others’(those who described some influence) (44%) and ‘Feeling different’ (those describing a great influence on current life) (7%). Conclusions: Most of the adolescents and young adults appear to get along well, although many informants described that life was affected to some extent by having had cancer. Implications for Practice: Necessary follow-up care that can identify those young survivors of childhood cancer having trouble with daily life and offer them support to strengthen their resources in managing difficulties in relation to having had cancer

High frequency sound waves in vitreous silica

We report a molecular dynamics simulation study of the sound waves in vitreous silica in the mesoscopic exchanged momentum range. The calculated dynamical structure factors are in quantitative agreement with recent experimental inelastic neutron and x-ray scattering data. The analysis of the longitudinal and transverse current spectra allows to discriminate between opposite interpretations of the existing experimental data in favour of the propagating nature of the high frequency sound waves.Comment: 4 pages, Revtex, 4 ps figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. Lett., February 198

Spectral Shape of Relaxations in Silica Glass

Precise low-frequency light scattering experiments on silica glass are presented, covering a broad temperature and frequency range (9 GHz < \nu < 2 THz). For the first time the spectral shape of relaxations is observed over more than one decade in frequency. The spectra show a power-law low-frequency wing of the relaxational part of the spectrum with an exponent $\alpha$ proportional to temperature in the range 30 K < T < 200 K. A comparison of our results with those from acoustic attenuation experiments performed at different frequencies shows that this power-law behaviour rather well describes relaxations in silica over 9 orders of magnitude in frequency. These findings can be explained by a model of thermally activated transitions in double well potentials.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Feasibility of a self-help web-based intervention targeting young cancer patients with sexual problems and fertility distress

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a self-help web-based intervention to alleviate sexual problems and fertility distress in adolescents and young adults with cancer. METHODS: Twenty-three persons with cancer (19 women and 4 men, age 18-43, 1-5 years post-diagnosis of lymphoma, breast, gynecologic, central nervous system, or testicular cancer) were recruited to test a 2-month web-based program targeting sexual problems or fertility distress. The programs were organized in modules with educational and behavior change content, including texts, illustrations, exercises, and video vignettes. The program also included a discussion forum and an "ask the expert" forum. In addition, the sexuality program offered two telephone consultations. Feasibility (regarding demand, acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and functionality) was evaluated with the website system data, telephone interviews, continuous online evaluations, and study-specific measures. RESULTS: Fifteen participants completed four modules or more. Most of the program features were used and well accepted by these "committed users." The web-based format enabled flexible use by participants with diverse needs. Preliminary efficacy was indicated by self-reported increased knowledge and skill in handling sexual problems and fertility distress. The website was easy to use and functioned well technically. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that this web-based intervention was feasible for adolescents and young adults with cancer. The effectiveness of the intervention in decreasing sexual problems and fertility distress will be tested in a population-based randomized controlled trial for adolescents and young adults with cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN36621459

Frequency behavior of Raman coupling coefficient in glasses

Low-frequency Raman coupling coefficient of 11 different glasses is evaluated. It is found that the coupling coefficient demonstrates a universal linear frequency behavior near the boson peak maximum and a superlinear behavior at very low frequencies. The last observation suggests vanishing of the coupling coefficient when frequency tends to zero. The results are discussed in terms of the vibration wavefunction that combines features of localized and extended modes.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Outcomes for 18 to 25-year-olds with borderline personality disorder in a dedicated young adult only DBT programme compared to a general adult DBT programme for all ages 18

Aim Targeting young adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD) for treatment may carry significant social and clinical benefits. We aimed to evaluate a community‐based Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme delivered exclusively to young adults with BPD. Methods We describe a naturally occurring non‐equivalent, quasi‐experimental comparison of outcomes for young adults (18‐25 years) with BPD following 1 year of treatment in either a young adult only DBT programme or a general adult DBT programme (18+ years). Twenty‐four young adults enrolled in a community‐based young adult DBT programme open only to 18‐ to 25‐year‐olds with BPD. Another 13 young adults, also 18‐25 years, enrolled in a general adult DBT programme open to all ages above 18 years. Both treatment conditions offered all modes of standard DBT for 1 year. Participants completed a battery of self‐report measures on mental health symptoms at baseline and again at treatment completion after 1 year. Discharge rates at 2 years post‐treatment completion were also recorded. Results Better outcomes were found on borderline symptom severity and general psychopathology among completers of young adult DBT, with a large effect size for treatment condition as well as greater clinically significant change. Discharge rates from mental health services 24 months later were also higher for completers of young adult DBT. Conclusions There may be advantages in delivering DBT to young adults in an age‐specific programme, possibly due to group cohesion. Methodological limitations apply, such as small sample size and non‐randomization. Further controlled research is needed

Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of pharmacological treatment for adolescents and adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of psychological therapies for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD)