Self-efficacy for coping. Utility of the Cancer behavior inventory (Italian) for use in palliative care

Background: Newer models of palliative and supportive cancer care view the person as an active agent in managing physical and psychosocial challenges. Therefore, personal efficacy is an integral part of this model. Due to the lack of instruments in Italian to assess coping self-efficacy, the present study included the translation and validation of the Italian version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory-Brief (CBI-B/I) and an initial analysis of the utility of self-efficacy for coping in an Italian sample of palliative care patients. Methods: 216 advanced cancer patients who attended palliative care clinics were enrolled. The CBI-B/I was administered along with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Mini Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (Mini-MAC), the Cancer Concerns Checklist (CCL), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) ratings of functional capacity were completed by physicians. Results: Factor analysis confirmed that the structure of the CBI-B/I was consistent with the English version. Internal consistency reliability and significant correlations with the EORTC QLQ-C30, Mini-MAC, and HADS supported the concurrent validity of the CBI-B/I. Differences in CBI-B/I scores for high versus low levels of the CCL and ECOG-PS supported the clinical utility of the CBI-B/I. Conclusions: The CBI-B/I has strong psychometric properties and represents an important addition to newer model of palliative and supportive care. In order to improve clinical practice, the CBI-B/I could be useful in identifying specific self-efficacy goals for coping in structured psychosocial intervention

Control methods for Dermanyssus gallinae in systems for laying hens: results of an international seminar

This paper reports the results of a seminar on poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae. Eighteen researchers from eight European countries discussed life cycle issues of the mite, effects of mites on hens and egg production, and monitoring and control methods for PRM in poultry facilities. It was determined that PRM probably causes more damage than envisaged, with the cost in The Netherlands alone reaching 11 million euro per annum. However a great deal is still unknown about PRM (e.g. reproduction, survival methods, etc.) and that PRM monitoring is an important instrument in recognising and admitting the problem and in taking timely measures. Currently, the most promising control method combines heating the hen house in combination with chemical treatments. Future areas of development which show promise include the use of entomopathogenic fungi, vaccination and predatory mites. The final aim is to solve the problem of D. gallinae in housing systems for laying hens

Effectiveness of an innovative sensory approach to improve children’s nutritional choices

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the Edueat® Method, through experiential workshops focused on the use of all 5 senses. In two different primary schools in the same city, questionnaires were administered in two months with a follow-up one year later. Participants: 119 children (age 8.2–9.0) chosen randomly; control group 66 (55.5%). Seven lessons of 2 h each were held in the schools by experts of the Edueat® method and seven extra lessons by the teachers. The main outcome measures were the children’s changes in their approach and attitude towards their eating habits. The answers were grouped with factor analysis and summarized through scores. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted in order to identify the relationships between scores and treatment over time. At the end of treatment, the intervention group showed a significant appreciation towards healthy foods (+4.15 vs. −0.05, p = 0.02) and a greater capacity in identifying foods which are very good for the health (+15.6 vs. +14.4, p = 0.02). In conclusion, the Edueat® method was found to be particularly promising in transmitting knowledge of those foods which are healthy. Greater involvement of teachers and parents is crucial

Thermodynamic Properties of N-Methyl-Substituted Ethane-1,2-diamines: Experimental and Computational Study

© 2016 American Chemical Society.Vapor pressures for four N-methyl-substituted ethane-1,2-diamines were measured using the transpiration method. Enthalpies of vaporization were derived from the temperature dependence of the vapor pressures. Consistency of the experimental data was assessed and confirmed with group-additivity (GA) and quantum-chemical (QC) methods. Further confirmation of the results is provided through combined assessment with properties reported in the literature for the parent compound ethane-1,2-diamine and a group of alkyl-substituted alkane-1,2-diamines. The effective application of modern QC methods in critical evaluation of enthalpies of vaporization and enthalpies of formation is demonstrated

The effect of monovalent (Na+, K+) and divalent (Ca2+, Mg2+) cations on rapeseed oleosome (oil body) extraction and stability at pH 7

Oleosomes are storage vehicles of TAGs in plant seeds. They are protected with a phospholipid-protein monolayer and extracted with alkaline aqueous media; however, pH adjustment intensifies the extraction process. Therefore the aim of this work was to investigate the extraction mechanism of rapeseed oleosomes at pH 7 and at the presence of monovalent and divalent cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca+2). The oleosome yield at pH 9.5 was 64 wt%, while the yield at pH 7 with H2O was just 43 wt%. The presence of cations at pH 7, significantly enhanced the yield, with K+ giving the highest yield (64 wt%). The cations affected the oleosome interface and their interactions. The presence of monovalent cations resulted in aggregation and minor coalescence, while divalent cations resulted in extensive coalescence. These results help to understand the interactions of oleosomes in their native matrix and design simple extraction processes at neutral conditions

Bacteriuria asintomática en adultos mayores de 60 años

Introducción: La bacteriuria con frecuencia induceal médico a errores más aun en ausencia de síntomas,por minimizar su hallazgo, que cuando se repite o seacompaña de factores de riesgo inherentes a la edad ysituaciones clínicas prevalentes, entrañan peligro, por lafalta de diagnóstico tanto de infecciones urinarias y susconsecuencias a corto y largo plazo, como por la gravedadagregada a las patologías subyacentes.Objetivos: 1) Determinar Prevalencia de BacteriuriaAsintomática en pacientes ambulatorios mayores de 60años en la 1CCM del Hospital del Clínicas Asunción– Paraguay. 2) Perfil demográfico y factores de riesgos.3) Diagnósticos de ingreso.4) Etiología y sensibilidadantibiótica de gérmenes aislados.Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, observacional decorte trasverso, en la consulta ambulatoria de la 1CCMHospital de Clínicas Asunción - Paraguay durante elperíodo de enero a diciembre del 2002 se estudiaron168 pacientes de primera consulta, todos mayores de 60años, de ambos sexos, sin catéter vesical, ni antibióticoterapia, no hospitalizados previamente. Se completaron lasfichas clínicas protocolizadas para estudio de InfeccionesUrinarias; se analizó la primera orina matutina, chorromedio, previa higiene, retenidas por no menos de 4 horas,obtenidas con asepsia bajo gestión del departamentode enfermería. A los pacientes con urocultivo positivo(> 105 UFC/ml), se realizó un segundo urocultivo, parael diagnóstico de Bacteriuria Asintomática. Se evaluóy testo la sensibilidad de los gérmenes hallados en lasBacteriurias Asintomáticas. Para variable cuantitativa seutilizó la media y rango, para la cualitativa la frecuenciay prevalencia.Resultados: Sobre 168 pacientes, con media parala edad de 70,8 años y desviación estándar de 1,6 años, leve predominio del sexo femenino. La prevalencia deBacteriurias Asintomáticas fue de 5.95%, que aumentancon la edad, más prevalentes en portadores de factoresde riesgo; con diagnósticos asociados cardiovasculares,endocrinológicos, y oculares entre otros, por gérmenesmas frecuente de la familia Enterobacteriaceae, consensibilidades y resistencias bacterianas similares a antibióticosdisponibles de uso frecuente.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de la BacteriuriasAsintomáticas en mayores de 60 años, en la 1CCM delHospital de Clínicas de Asunción-Paraguay es similara la señalada en la literatura. Más frecuente y precoz enel sexo femenino, mayor Bacteriurias Asintomáticas amayor edad en ambos sexos; más frecuente en Diabéticosy Patologías obstructivas. Asociados a diagnósticos deprimera consulta: Cardiovascular, Diabetes mellitus, Cataratay otros, con predominio de diagnósticos quirúrgicos.Por gérmenes de la familia Enterobacteriaceae (E. coli).La sensibilidad y resistencia a antibióticos similares alos disponibles de uso frecuent

The thermodynamic properties of 2,3-benzothiophene

Upgrading of heavy fossil fuels is normally done by hydrotreating in the presence of catalysts at 5 to 15 MPa pressure of hydrogen and 575 to 700 K. The efficient use of expensive hydrogen in this process is essential to the economic viability of alternative fuel sources (heavy petroleum, tar sands, shale oil, and the products of the liquefaction of coal). 2,3-Benzothiophene is widely used as a model compound in catalyst-comparison and kinetic studies of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanism. To perform a thermodynamic analysis of the 2,3-benzothiophene/hydrogen reaction network at the process temperatures, Gibbs energies of reaction at those high temperatures are required for the molecules involved. Measurements leading to the calculation of the ideal-gas thermodynamic properties for 2,3-benzothiophene are reported. Experimental methods included adiabatic heat-capacity calorimetry, comparative ebulliometry, inclined-piston gauge manometry, and differential-scanning calorimetry (d.s.c.). The critical temperature and critical density were determined with the d.s.c., and the critical pressure was derived. Entropies, enthalpies, and Gibbs energies of formation were derived for the ideal gas for selected temperatures between 260 K and 750 K. These values were derived by combining the reported measurements with values published previously for the enthalpy of combustion, the enthalpy of fusion, and the absolute entropy and enthalpy of the liquid at the triple-point temperature. Measured and derived quantities were compared with available literature values. 55 refs., 6 figs., 13 tabs

Control methods for Dermanyssus gallinae in systems for laying hens: results of an international seminar

This paper reports the results of a seminar on poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae. Eighteen researchers from eight European countries discussed life cycle issues of the mite, effects of mites on hens and egg production, and monitoring and control methods for PRM in poultry facilities. It was determined that PRM probably causes more damage than envisaged, with the cost in The Netherlands alone reaching 11 million euro per annum. However a great deal is still unknown about PRM (e.g. reproduction, survival methods, etc.) and that PRM monitoring is an important instrument in recognising and admitting the problem and in taking timely measures. Currently, the most promising control method combines heating the hen house in combination with chemical treatments. Future areas of development which show promise include the use of entomopathogenic fungi, vaccination and predatory mites. The final aim is to solve the problem of D. gallinae in housing systems for laying hen

Gas Hydrate Research Database and Web Dissemination Channel

To facilitate advances in application of technologies pertaining to gas hydrates, a United States database containing experimentally-derived information about those materials was developed. The Clathrate Hydrate Physical Property Database (NIST Standard Reference Database {number_sign} 156) was developed by the TRC Group at NIST in Boulder, Colorado paralleling a highly-successful database of thermodynamic properties of molecular pure compounds and their mixtures and in association with an international effort on the part of CODATA to aid in international data sharing. Development and population of this database relied on the development of three components of information-processing infrastructure: (1) guided data capture (GDC) software designed to convert data and metadata into a well-organized, electronic format, (2) a relational data storage facility to accommodate all types of numerical and metadata within the scope of the project, and (3) a gas hydrate markup language (GHML) developed to standardize data communications between 'data producers' and 'data users'. Having developed the appropriate data storage and communication technologies, a web-based interface for both the new Clathrate Hydrate Physical Property Database, as well as Scientific Results from the Mallik 2002 Gas Hydrate Production Research Well Program was developed and deployed at http://gashydrates.nist.gov