Mindfulness-Based Intervention For Nurses In AIDS Care In China: A Pilot Study.

Background/purpose:Workplace stress among nurses providing care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus is a serious problem in China that may increase rates of job burnout and affect quality of care. Mindfulness-based intervention has been shown to be effective in relieving stress and burnout in nurses. Therefore, we designed a mixed-method pilot study to evaluate a mindfulness-based intervention for nurses providing care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus. Methods:Twenty nurses caring for people living with human immunodeficiency virus in the First Hospital of Changsha, China participated in a mindfulness-based intervention for 2 hr sessions weekly for 6 weeks. The Perceived Stress Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to collect data before and after the mindfulness-based intervention. Participants were invited to attend an in-depth interview 1 week after the end of the mindfulness-based intervention to give feedback. Results:The quantitative analyses revealed a significant change in Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire scores. There were no significant differences between pre- and post-intervention measures of any other variables. Qualitative results showed nurses experienced a decrease in work and daily life pressures; improvements in communications with patients, colleagues and families, with better regulation of negative emotions, and acceptance of other people and attention. Conclusion:This study supports the acceptability and potential benefits of the mindfulness-based intervention in helping nurses caring for people living with human immunodeficiency virus to manage stress and emotions, and improve their acceptance of others and attention. A larger study with a randomized controlled trial design is warranted to confirm the effectiveness of this mindfulness-based intervention

Search for light dark matter from atmosphere in PandaX-4T

We report a search for light dark matter produced through the cascading decay of $\eta$ mesons, which are created as a result of inelastic collisions between cosmic rays and Earth's atmosphere. We introduce a new and general framework, publicly accessible, designed to address boosted dark matter specifically, with which a full and dedicated simulation including both elastic and quasi-elastic processes of Earth attenuation effect on the dark matter particles arriving at the detector is performed. In the PandaX-4T commissioning data of 0.63 tonne$\cdot$year exposure, no significant excess over background is observed. The first constraints on the interaction between light dark matter generated in the atmosphere and nucleus through a light scalar mediator are obtained. The lowest excluded cross-section is set at $5.9 \times 10^{-37}{\rm cm^2}$ for dark matter mass of $0.1$ MeV$/c^2$ and mediator mass of 300 MeV$/c^2$. The lowest upper limit of $\eta$ to dark matter decay branching ratio is $1.6 \times 10^{-7}$

A Search for Light Fermionic Dark Matter Absorption on Electrons in PandaX-4T

We report a search on a sub-MeV fermionic dark matter absorbed by electrons with an outgoing active neutrino using the 0.63 tonne-year exposure collected by PandaX-4T liquid xenon experiment. No significant signals are observed over the expected background. The data are interpreted into limits to the effective couplings between such dark matter and electrons. For axial-vector or vector interactions, our sensitivity is competitive in comparison to existing astrophysical bounds on the decay of such dark matter into photon final states. In particular, we present the first direct detection limits for an axial-vector (vector) interaction which are the strongest in the mass range from 25 to 45 (35 to 50) keV/c$^2$

Changes in Chemical Composition, Crystallizability, and Microstructure of Decayed Wood-Fiber-Mat-Reinforced Composite Treated with Copper Triazole Preservative

Wood-fiber-mat-reinforced composites (WFMRCs) possess excellent physical and mechanical properties and provide high structural performance, making them a suitable engineering structural material. However, WFMRCs are susceptible to biological attack by fungi and insects when they are used in outdoor environments. In this study, the efficacy of copper triazole (CuAz) preservative treatment in protecting WFMRC against decay by white- and brown-rot fungi (Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum, respectively) was evaluated. Both fungi caused a mass loss in the untreated scrimber of more than 15%, while the CuAz preservative treatment reduced the mass loss to 5%. The measurement results show that CuAz treatment could effectively reduce the degradation rate of three major components of wood; inhibit fungal colonization and degradation; and improve the decay resistance of WFMRC. The atmospheric impregnation of CuAz preservative is more suitable for the material features of WFMRC than vacuum impregnation and can be considered for practical industrial applications. This study provides technical support for the protection and outdoor application of WFMRCs

Stress and Coping in Nurses Taking Care of People Living with HIV in Hunan, China: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Background/purposeNurses engaged in the care of people living with HIV (PLWH) are commonly exposed to workplace stress. This study aimed to explore the stress experiences and coping strategies among nurses taking care of PLWH in China.MethodsNurses were recruited from the AIDS department of a public, general, third-grade class-A hospital, which has the largest HIV care department in the Hunan Province of China. Thirty-three nurses working in the AIDS Department were recruited in this qualitative study. Eight nurses participated in a focus group and 25 nurses underwent in-depth individual interviews aimed at characterizing the nurse's feelings and struggles with stress during caregiving for PLWH. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymized, and imported into NVivo 8.0 software. The data were coded and subjected to thematic analysis.ResultsConcerns about occupational exposure, heavy workload, mental health problems and risk behaviors of patients, and discrimination towards nurses caring for PLWH were the four main sources of stress. The negative impact of stress included problems with emotion regulation, somatic health and sleep, and work performance. Some participants also reported a positive impact of work stress on their mental health. Using personality strengths, problem-solving, help-seeking, concealing and avoiding/suppression were common coping strategies employed by nurses caring for PLWH.ConclusionOur findings help characterize the stress experienced by nurses caring for PLWH in the Chinese cultural context, and may inform specific interventions to help manage stress and promote mental health of nurses

Photostabilizing Efficiency of Acrylic-based Bamboo Exterior Coatings Combining Benzotriazole and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can degrade and discolor bamboo; thus, coatings to protect it from UV exposure are required, especially for outdoor use. Benzotriazole (BTZ) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (NZnO) are organic and inorganic UV absorbers commonly used in UV shielding coatings. This study investigated the photostabilizing efficiency of acrylic-based bamboo exterior coatings using a combination of BTZ and NZnO. Different film formulations covering bamboo substrates were irradiated with artificial UV light for 500 h to accelerate aging. The UV-shielding effect on bamboo beneath various films was determined by CIELAB color space and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The film effectiveness was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, wettability, UV-vis spectroscopy, and FTIR-attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy. Films containing BTZ provided higher resistance to photodegradation and more effectively inhibited photodiscoloration of the bamboo substrates than those prepared solely with NZnO. After 500 h of UV irradiation, the BTZ–NZnO film containing 2 wt % BTZ and 1 wt % NZnO showed the best coating performance. Strong synergistic effects were detected in the BTZ–NZnO coatings, particularly for the 2:1 ratio formulation. This study also demonstrated the potential of combining BTZ and NZnO as additives for developing stable, effective UV-shielding bamboo exterior coatings for outdoor applications

Weatherability of Bamboo Scrimber: Enhance in Photostability of Substrate and Coatings

Enhancing the weatherability of bamboo-based products is essential for increasing their application lifespan. In this study, a composite protective coating containing organic and inorganic UV absorbers and a hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) was investigated for outdoor bamboo scrimber (OBS). The optical properties of weathered coated and uncoated samples were investigated by colorimetry and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the coating. The addition of HALS improved the photostability of the coating and preserved the properties of OBS. Compared to resin-coated samples, alicyclic amines in HALS inhibit photooxidation reactions between bamboo lignin and the coating adhesive. This inhibition is critical for maintaining the UV-shielding performance of the coating. We have developed a photostable protective coating for bamboo-based products whose widespread use can significantly help conserve critical forest resources