Sex and Sexuality of Breast Cancer Survivors

With new diagnostic technologies and treatment modalities available, more people than ever are living as cancer survivors in the United States. A large group of this population consists of breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this research was to explore the intersection of breast cancer survivorship, at points beyond the termination of treatment, and sexuality, including expressions and performance of gender, relationships, and sexual behavior. The current study used semi-structured interviews, conducted with 21 Midwestern women at least 6-months post-treatment, to better understand the intersection of these two concepts. Following traditions of narrative and phenomenological qualitative research, the women’s own stories were used to explore the impact that survivorship, diagnosis, and treatment may have on a woman’s sexual self. Results are presented through manuscripts exploring the role of sexual script theory and the role of the breast in the lives of women after breast cancer. This study found that women’s sexual scripts were impacted by a diagnosis of breast cancer. For participants of this study, new scripts emerged that assisted in making meaning of the experience

Knowledge, Attitude and Willingness to Participate in Gamete Donation for Artificial Insemination among Undergraduate Students in Lagos

Background: Infertility affects one-fifth to one-sixth of couples of reproductive age. Gamete donation is one option for managing infertility, but it is relatively unknown in the developing world. Objectives: To assess Nigerian undergraduate students' knowledge, attitude and willingness to participate in gamete donation for artificial insemination. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 undergraduate students using a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The respondents were recruited using a multi-stage sampling technique. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21.5±3.2 years, with a range of 18-32 years. The majority (89.4%) of the respondents were single and were in the first year of study (56.3%). Almost all the respondents (96.3%) had heard about the practice of gamete donation, but only (38.7%) had overall good knowledge about it. Almost half (46.9%) of respondents had an overall positive attitude towards gamete donation, while only 37.5% were willing to participate. The class level of the respondents (p = 0.03) was significantly associated with poor knowledge of gamete donation, while age (p = 0.01) and gender (p < 0.001) were associated with a negative attitude. Age (p<0.001) was also significantly associated with poor willingness to participate. Conclusion: The respondents' awareness of gamete donation was high, but their knowledge was poor, leading to a negative attitude and poor willingness to participate. Public enlightenment on gamete donation for artificial insemination should be intensified

ANALISIS PENENTUAN TARIF KAMAR HOTEL DENGAN METODE ACTIVITY BASED COSTING: (Studi Kasus Pada Hotel Sylvia Maumere)

This study aims to determine the calculation of hotel room rates using the Activity Based Costing method and the comparison of the calculation of hotel room rates based on the traditional methods used by hotel management with Activity Based Costing. The research method used is quantitative descriptive analysis method. The data collection method used in this research is by using the observation method, the interview method, and the documentation method. The results of the calculation of room rental rates using the Activity Based Costing method approach, namely, for the Superior Twin room type of Rp. 216,648.77 for the Superior Double room type of Rp. 236,680.56 for the Superior Triple room type of Rp. 331,751.82 for the Deluxe room type of Rp. IDR 480,014.08 and for the Suite room type is IDR 3,016,106.64. There is a difference in room rental rates that are lower for the types of Superior Twin, Superior Double, and Superior Triple rooms from the calculation results of the Activity Based Costing method with the calculation of the company using the traditional method approach, namely Rp. 131,588.74, Rp. 111,886.26 and respectively. IDR 144,318.09. Meanwhile, the higher room rental rates using the Activity Based Costing method, namely the Deluxe and Suite types of Rp.75,944.17 and Rp.2,144,770.64

Decision Making about Risk of Infection by Young Adults with CF

Young people with cystic fibrosis (CF) are asked to avoid a number of environments associated with increased infection risk, but in practice they need to balance this with competing priorities such as building and sustaining relationships with friends and family. This study explored the process by which young people make these decisions. Mixed methods were used: a vignette study presenting choices around engaging in activities involving a degree of infection risk and a thematic analysis of participant's accounts of their decision making. The eight participants chose to engage in high risk behaviours in 59% of the choices. All participants chose to engage in at least one risky behavior, though this was less likely when the risk was significant. Thematic analysis revealed large areas of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge, leading to some potentially worrying misconceptions about the nature of infections and risk. Young people with CF are not currently making informed decisions around activities that involve increased risk of infection, and there is an urgent need for CF teams to address this in information provision

Effet de l’engrais organique liquide «Dragon 1», sur le developpement de la tomate au sud et au centre-ouest de la Côte D’Ivoire

Une étude sur la fertilisation minérale et organique liquide, a été faite sur la tomate en petite saison de pluie au Sud et au Centre-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire sur deux années afin, d’améliorer le developpement de la tomate. Mais de manière spécifique, il a s’agit d’évaluer les effets de différentes doses de Dragon 1, associées ou non à l’engrais minéral sur, la hauteur des plantes, le diamètre des tiges, le taux de floraison, les dates  phénologiques (50 % floraison, la 1ère récolte et la fin de la récolte). Le dispositif expérimental était un Split-plot, avec 4 répétitions ayant pour facteur principal, l’engrais minéral et le facteur secondaire, l’engrais  organique à 4 doses (Lha-1) : C0 = 0 (témoin), C1 = 2,5 ; C2 = 3,75 et C3 = 5. Les résultats ont montré que le traitement T10 (300 Kgha-1  engrais minéral + 3,75 Lha-1 de Dragon 1), a mieux amélioré la  croissance en hauteur des plantes à la floraison et à la 1ère récolte.  Cependant, la dose 2 de Dragon 1 utilisée seule, a davantage accru le diamètre des tiges, le taux de floraison, stimulé la précocité de cette  floraison, de la récolte et favorisé une longue période de récolte.Mots clés : Tomate, fertilisation minérale, fertilisation organique liquide

Modified Annexin V/Propidium Iodide Apoptosis Assay For Accurate Assessment of Cell Death

Studies of cellular apoptosis have been significantly impacted since the introduction of flow cytometry-based methods. Propidium iodide (PI) is widely used in conjunction with Annexin V to determine if cells are viable, apoptotic, or necrotic through differences in plasma membrane integrity and permeability1,2. The Annexin V/ PI protocol is a commonly used approach for studying apoptotic cells3. PI is used more often than other nuclear stains because it is economical, stable and a good indicator of cell viability, based on its capacity to exclude dye in living cells 4,5. The ability of PI to enter a cell is dependent upon the permeability of the membrane; PI does not stain live or early apoptotic cells due to the presence of an intact plasma membrane 1,2,6. In late apoptotic and necrotic cells, the integrity of the plasma and nuclear membranes decreases7,8, allowing PI to pass through the membranes, intercalate into nucleic acids, and display red fluorescence 1,2,9. Unfortunately, we find that conventional Annexin V/ PI protocols lead to a significant number of false positive events (up to 40%), which are associated with PI staining of RNA within the cytoplasmic compartment10. Primary cells and cell lines in a broad range of animal models are affected, with large cells (nuclear: cytoplasmic ratios <0.5) showing the highest occurrence10. Herein, we demonstrate a modified Annexin V/ PI method that provides a significant improvement for assessment of cell death compared to conventional methods. This protocol takes advantage of changes in cellular permeability during cell fixing to promote entry of RNase A into cells following staining. Both the timing and concentration of RNase A have been optimized for removal of cytoplasmic RNA. The result is a significant improvement over conventional Annexin V/ PI protocols (< 5% events with cytoplasmic PI staining)

LFI 30 and 44 GHz receivers Back-End Modules

The 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules (BEM) for the Planck Low Frequency Instrument are broadband receivers (20% relative bandwidth) working at room temperature. The signals coming from the Front End Module are amplified, band pass filtered and finally converted to DC by a detector diode. Each receiver has two identical branches following the differential scheme of the Planck radiometers. The BEM design is based on MMIC Low Noise Amplifiers using GaAs P-HEMT devices, microstrip filters and Schottky diode detectors. Their manufacturing development has included elegant breadboard prototypes and finally qualification and flight model units. Electrical, mechanical and environmental tests were carried out for the characterization and verification of the manufactured BEMs. A description of the 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules of Planck-LFI radiometers is given, with details of the tests done to determine their electrical and environmental performances. The electrical performances of the 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules: frequency response, effective bandwidth, equivalent noise temperature, 1/f noise and linearity are presented

Ancient DNA sheds light on the genetic origins of early Iron Age Philistines

The ancient Mediterranean port city of Ashkelon, identified as “}Philistine{”} during the Iron Age, underwent a marked cultural change between the Late Bronze and the early Iron Age. It has been long debated whether this change was driven by a substantial movement of people, possibly linked to a larger migration of the so-called {“}Sea Peoples.{” Here, we report genome-wide data of 10 Bronze and Iron Age individuals from Ashkelon. We find that the early Iron Age population was genetically distinct due to a European-related admixture. This genetic signal is no longer detectible in the later Iron Age population. Our results support that a migration event occurred during the Bronze to Iron Age transition in Ashkelon but did not leave a long-lasting genetic signature

Effects of Laser Source Parameters on the Generation of Narrow Band and Directed Laser Ultrasound

The successful application of laser techniques for ultrasonic testing depends on the efficient coupling of optical energy into elastic energy so that laser probe detection sensitivity may be maximized. Through optimization of the laser source which is used to generate ultrasonic waves, the overall performance of laser ultrasonic systems may be enhanced by improving the efficiency with which optical energy is converted to elastic energy. This optimization depends primarily on the source laser wavelength which governs the physical interaction of the optical energy with the material of interest. For a given laser source wavelength, several techniques have been demonstrated which modify the laser source to enhance the detectability of laser ultrasonic waves and include the repetitively pulsed laser source [1,2], or temporal array, and the phased array laser source [3],or phased array. These techniques directly address the wave detectability issue by controlling the amplitude and/or the frequency content of the laser ultrasonic wave. Even though the overall conversion efficiency of optical energy to elastic energy is not improved primarily by repetitive pulsing or phasing laser arrays, the detectability of a given laser ultrasonic wave may be enhanced beyond that obtained using a single laser source

Immunotherapy of lung cancer: An update

In Germany lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated death in men. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may enhance survival of patients suffering from lung cancer but the enhancement is typically transient and mostly absent with advanced disease; eventually more than 90% of lung cancer patients will die of disease. New approaches to the treatment of lung cancer are urgently needed. Immunotherapy may represent one new approach with low toxicity and high specificity but implementation has been a challenge because of the poor antigenic characterization of these tumors and their ability to escape immune responses. Several different immunotherapeutic treatment strategies have been developed. This review examines the current state of development and recent advances with respect to non-specific immune stimulation, cellular immunotherapy ( specific and non-specific), therapeutic cancer vaccines and gene therapy for lung cancer. The focus is primarily placed on immunotherapeutic cancer treatments that are already in clinical trial or well progressed in preclinical studies. Although there seems to be a promising future for immunotherapy in lung cancer, presently there is not standard immunotherapy available for clinical routine