Study of relationship between illness perception and delay in seeking help for breast cancer patients based on Leventhal's self-regulation model

One of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients is delay in seeking help. Leventhal's self-regulation model provides an appropriate framework to assess delay in seeking help. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between "illness perception" and "help seeking delay" in breast cancer patients based on Leventhal's self-regulation model. In this correlational descriptive study with convenience sampling conducted in 2013, participants were 120 women with breast cancer who were diagnosed in the last year and referred to chemotherapy and radiotherapy centers in Rasht, Iran. Data collection scales included demographic data, Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R)and a researcher made questionnaire to measure the delay in seeking help. Pre-hospital delay (help seeking delay) was evaluated in 3 phases (assessment, disease, behavior). The data were analyzed using SPSS- 19. The mean (SD) age calculated for the patients was 47.3±10.2. Some 43 of the patients had a high school or higher education level and 82 were married. The "pre-hospital delay" was reported �3 months. Logistic regression analysis showed that none of the illness perception components were correlated with appraisal and behavioral delay phases. In the illness delay phase, "time line" (p-value =0.04) and "risk factors"(p-value=0.03) had significant effects on reducing and "psychological attributions" had significant effects on increasing the delay (p-value =0.01). "Illness coherence" was correlated with decreased pre-hospital patient delay (p-value < 0.01). Women's perceptions of breast cancer influences delay in seeking help. In addition to verifying the validity of Leventhal's self-regulation model in explaining delay in seeking help, the results signify the importance of the "illness delay phase" (decision to seek help) and educational interventions-counseling for women in the community

Comparison of callus induction and somatic embryogenesis of some Iranian cottons (Gossypium Spp.) with Coker 312 and histology of somatic embryogenesis

Callus induction and somatic embryogenesis from hypocotyl explants of some Iranian cottons spp. (Hashem abad, Kerman, Termez and Sepid) were compared with Coker 312 through induction and formation of embryogenic calli on medium of Murashige and Skoog (MS) with Gamborg vitamins (B5) supplemented with the following compositions: MSB1 (0.5 mg/l zeatin), MSB2 (1 mg/l zeatin), MSB3 (0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.1 mg/l kinetin), MSB4 (1 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 mg/l kinetin, 0.5 mg/l zeatin) and MSB5 (2 mg/l α-naphtalene-3-acetic acid, 1 mg/l kinetin, 0.75 mg/l MgCl2). The optimum medium for the proliferation of embryogenic calli was MS medium containing B5 vitamins, 1 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 mg/l kinetin and 0.5 mg/l zeatin and the optimum medium for the development of somatic embryos was MS medium (NH4NO3 was removed and KNO3 amount doubled) containing B5 vitamins, 40 g/l sucrose and without hormone. Media MSB1, MSB2 and MSB4 gave the highest percentage (100%) of calli induction in Coker 312 but the lowest induction (46.66%) was observed when Hashem abad explants were cultured in the MSB3 medium. Embryogenesis percentage of Termez (2.22  to 24.40%), Hashemabad (1.85 to 9.73%) and Sepid (9.06 to 22.28%) genotypes were significantly lower than that of Coker 312 (66.66 to 94.33%). The Kerman genotype did not show embryogenesis. In the histological studies, the different development stages of the embryos (globular, heart, torpedo and cotyledonary) together with callus cells were showed.Key words: Hypocotyl explants, somatic embryo, in vitro regeneration, germination, somatic embryogenesis histology

p-Wave holographic superconductors with Weyl corrections

We study the (3+1) dimensional p-wave holographic superconductors with Weyl corrections both numerically and analytically. We describe numerically the behavior of critical temperature $T_{c}$ with respect to charge density $\rho$ in a limited range of Weyl coupling parameter $\gamma$ and we find in general the condensation becomes harder with the increase of parameter $\gamma$. In strong coupling limit of Yang-Mills theory, we show that the minimum value of $T_{c}$ obtained from analytical approach is in good agreement with the numerical results, and finally show how we got remarkably a similar result in the critical exponent 1/2 of the chemical potential $\mu$ and the order parameter$$ with the numerical curves of superconductors.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, 1 table. One refrence added, presentations improve

Phase transition in an asymmetric generalization of the zero-temperature q-state Potts model

An asymmetric generalization of the zero-temperature q-state Potts model on a one dimensional lattice, with and without boundaries, has been studied. The dynamics of the particle number, and specially the large time behavior of the system has been analyzed. In the thermodynamic limit, the system exhibits two kinds of phase transitions, a static and a dynamic phase transition.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX2

Antibacterial activity of some Lamiaceae species against Staphylococcus aureus in yoghurt-based drink (Doogh)

Doogh is a dairy drinkable fermented product, whose shelf-life and quality is mostly affected by bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) from Thymus vulgaris L., Mentha piperita L. and Ziziphora tenuior L., alone or in combination, against Staphylococcus aureus in industrial doogh. A three-level and three-variable face centered central composite design experiment was used. Results showed that EOs significantly inhibited S. aureus growth after 1 and 7 days of storage. According to the model, the maximum inhibition was obtained in the presence of 0.2% of EO, independently of the type, and no synergistic or additive effects were observed. Slightly lower S. aureus survivals were observed at the maximum concentration of Z. tenuior EO. In spite of the antimicrobial activity of these EOs, further research is needed to assess their performance in food matrix and, in particular, in dairy product

Lower mitochondrial energy production of the thigh muscles in patients with low-normal ankle-brachial index

Background--Lower muscle mitochondrial energy production may contribute to impaired walking endurance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. A borderline ankle-brachial index (ABI) of 0.91 to 1.10 is associated with poorer walking endurance compared with higher ABI. We hypothesized that in the absence of peripheral arterial disease, lower ABI is associated with lower mitochondrial energy production. Methods and Results--We examined 363 men and women participating in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging with an ABI between 0.90 and 1.40. Muscle mitochondrial energy production was assessed by post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant (kPCr) measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the left thigh. A lower post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant reflects decreased mitochondria energy production.The mean age of the participants was 71\uc2\ub112 years. A total of 18.4% had diabetes mellitus and 4% were current and 40% were former smokers. Compared with participants with an ABI of 1.11 to 1.40, those with an ABI of 0.90 to 1.10 had significantly lower post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant (19.3 versus 20.8 ms-1, P=0.015). This difference remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and cholesterol levels (P=0.028). Similarly, post-exercise phosphocreatine recovery rate constant was linearly associated with ABI as a continuous variable, both in the ABI ranges of 0.90 to 1.40 (standardized coefficient=0.15, P=0.003) and 1.1 to 1.4 (standardized coefficient=0.12, P=0.0405). Conclusions--An ABI of 0.90 to 1.10 is associated with lower mitochondrial energy production compared with an ABI of 1.11 to 1.40. These data demonstrate adverse associations of lower ABI values with impaired mitochondrial activity even within the range of a clinically accepted definition of a normal ABI. Further study is needed to determine whether interventions in persons with ABIs of 0.90 to 1.10 can prevent subsequent functional decline

Performance of On-Line Learning Methods in Predicting Multiprocessor Memory Access Patterns

Shared memory multiprocessors require reconfigurable interconnection networks (INs) for scalability. These INs are reconfigured by an IN control unit. However, these INs are often plagued by undesirable reconfiguration time that is primarily due to control latency, the amount of time delay that the control unit takes to decide on a desired new IN configuration. To reduce control latency, a trainable prediction unit (PU) was devised and added to the IN controller. The PU's job is to anticipate and reduce control configuration time, the major component of the control latency. Three different on-line prediction techniques were tested to learn and predict repetitive memory access patterns for three typical parallel processing applications, the 2-D relaxation algorithm, matrix multiply and Fast Fourier Transform. The predictions were then used by a routing control algorithm to reduce control latency by configuring the IN to provide needed memory access paths before they were requested. Three prediction techniques were used and tested: 1). a Markov predictor, 2). a linear predictor and 3). a time delay neural network (TDNN) predictor. As expected, different predictors performed best on different applications, however, the TDNN produced the best overall results. (Also cross-referenced as UMIACS-TR-96-59