Impact of electrode geometry and thickness on planar on-chip microsupercapacitors

We report an assessment of the influence of both finger geometry and vertically-oriented carbon nanofiber lengths in planar micro-supercapacitors. Increasing the finger number leads to an up-scaling in areal power densities, which increases with scan rate. Growing the nanofibers longer, however, does not lead to a proportional growth in capacitance, proposedly related to limited ion penetration of the electrode

The Expression of BAFF, APRIL and TWEAK Is Altered in Eczema Skin but Not in the Circulation of Atopic and Seborrheic Eczema Patients

The TNF family cytokines BAFF (B-cell activating factor of the TNF family) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) are crucial survival factors for B-cell development and activation. B-cell directed treatments have been shown to improve atopic eczema (AE), suggesting the involvement of these cytokines in the pathogenesis of AE. We therefore analyzed the expression of these TNF cytokines in AE, seborrheic eczema (SE) and healthy controls (HC). The serum/plasma concentration of BAFF, APRIL and a close TNF member TWEAK (TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis) was measured by ELISA. The expression of these cytokines and their receptors in skin was analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Unlike other inflammatory diseases including autoimmune diseases and asthma, the circulating levels of BAFF, APRIL and TWEAK were not elevated in AE or SE patients compared with HCs and did not correlate with the disease severity or systemic IgE levels in AE patients. Interestingly, we found that the expression of these cytokines and their receptors was altered in positive atopy patch test reactions in AE patients (APT-AE) and in lesional skin of AE and SE patients. The expression of APRIL was decreased and the expression of BAFF was increased in eczema skin of AE and SE, which could contribute to a reduced negative regulatory input on B-cells. This was found to be more pronounced in APT-AE, the initiating acute stage of AE, which may result in dysregulation of over-activated B-cells. Furthermore, the expression levels of TWEAK and its receptor positively correlated to each other in SE lesions, but inversely correlated in AE lesions. These results shed light on potential pathogenic roles of these TNF factors in AE and SE, and pinpoint a potential of tailored treatments towards these factors in AE and SE

"We are some kind of backup family here..." : A qualitative study about preschool teachers' work with establishing secure relationships with children and the relative impact of the group size

Syftet med studien är att bidra med en djupare kunskap om hur förskollärare arbetar med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen samt vilken betydelse barngruppens storlek har för relationsskapandet. Studiens berörda frågeställningar är: Hur beskriver förskollärare sitt arbete med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen? Vilken betydelse upplever förskollärare att barngruppens storlek har för relationsskapandet? Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ ansats där sex yrkesverksamma förskollärare intervjuats med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien har sin utgångspunkt i anknytningsteorin och den insamlade empirin har analyserats med en tematisk analys för att synliggöra gemensamma teman. I resultatet framgår det att trygga relationer mellan förskollärare och barn är av stor betydelse för allt arbete i förskolan. Förskollärarna lyfter även relationen till vårdnadshavarna som betydelsefull i deras arbete med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen. Resultatet visar även att barngruppens storlek tillsammans med faktorer som gruppens sammansättning och organisation, har betydelse för relationsskapandet mellan förskollärare och barn.

"We are some kind of backup family here..." : A qualitative study about preschool teachers' work with establishing secure relationships with children and the relative impact of the group size

Syftet med studien är att bidra med en djupare kunskap om hur förskollärare arbetar med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen samt vilken betydelse barngruppens storlek har för relationsskapandet. Studiens berörda frågeställningar är: Hur beskriver förskollärare sitt arbete med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen? Vilken betydelse upplever förskollärare att barngruppens storlek har för relationsskapandet? Studien har genomförts med en kvalitativ ansats där sex yrkesverksamma förskollärare intervjuats med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien har sin utgångspunkt i anknytningsteorin och den insamlade empirin har analyserats med en tematisk analys för att synliggöra gemensamma teman. I resultatet framgår det att trygga relationer mellan förskollärare och barn är av stor betydelse för allt arbete i förskolan. Förskollärarna lyfter även relationen till vårdnadshavarna som betydelsefull i deras arbete med att skapa trygga relationer till barnen. Resultatet visar även att barngruppens storlek tillsammans med faktorer som gruppens sammansättning och organisation, har betydelse för relationsskapandet mellan förskollärare och barn.

Experiences of how brief admission influences daily life functioning among individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-harming behaviour

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to explore experiences of how brief admission influences daily life functioning among individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-harming behaviour. Background Brief admission (BA) is a crisis nursing intervention designed to reduce long hospitalisations and the risk of suicide. The intention of the intervention is to develop autonomy and to encourage the patient to take responsibility for and control over their own care and treatment. There are studies in the area that target individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorders, but no previous studies have been found examining how BA impacts upon daily life functioning among people with BPD who self-harm. Design A descriptive qualitative design was chosen. Methods Data were collected using qualitative individual interviews with 16 patients with BPD and self-harming behaviour who had been assigned to BA. The data were analysed using conventional content analysis. The study was conducted in accordance with COREQ guidelines. Results The results show that BA was perceived as a functioning nursing intervention that promoted self-determination and self-care. This contributed to increased security in daily life. BA made it possible for individuals to maintain everyday routines, employment and relationships more easily. Conclusions Our findings suggest that BA was experienced to have a positive impact on daily life functioning. Relevance to clinical practice Brief admission enabled the balance of power to be shifted from the nurse to the patient, and provides conditions for patients to take responsibility for their mental condition and to become aware of early signs of deterioration, in line with the basic ideas of person-centred care.Funding Agencies|Department of Psychiatry, Ryhov County Hospital, Jonkoping</p