bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sleeping with One Eye Open: The Sleep experience of Family Members Providing Palliative Care at Home
Authors: Hearson Brenda , McClement Susan , McMillan Diana E. , Harlos Michael
Published: December 2018

Purpose: To empirically describe the sleep experience of family caregivers (n=13) of advanced cancer patients. Method: Mixed methodology using: family interviews; Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); and actigraphy measurement. Qualitative data analysis utilized constant comparative content techniques. Actiware for the actigraphy data and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences-15 (SPSS-15) generated descriptive and correlation statistics. Findings: The over arching theme “sleeping with one eye open” captures the vigilant nature of caregivers’ sleep experiences. Caregiver narratives were validated by quantitative findings: 5 of the family caregivers (38.5 percent) had an ESS score ≥ 11 indicative of excessive daytime sleepiness, all caregivers had a PSQI global score > 5 indicative of moderate to severe sleep problems, and actigraphy scores — including total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and time awake after sleep onset — fell beyond normal values documented in the literature. Conclusion: Impeccable assessment of the patient's and family's sleep status, sleep education, intervention strategies, and high-quality respite services are critical in community-based palliative care.
Hospice Residents’ Interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Cam) at end of Life: A Pilot Study in Hospice Residences in British Columbia
Authors: Rahim-Jamal Sherin , Sarte Ann , Kozak Jean , Bodell Kathy , Barroetavena Maria Cristina , Gallagher Romayne , Leis Anne
Published: December 2018

While complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can improve quality of life at end of life, little research exists on hospice residents’ interest in using and sharing CAM experiences with a partner/friend/other family member. A pilot study conducted in British Columbia, Canada explored the extent of hospice residents’ interest and openness to CAM use. A convenience sample of 48 hospice residents from 9 hospice sites completed questionnaire-based interviews. The majority of participants were Caucasian women over 60 years old. 81 percent expressed interest in receiving CAM; 79 percent used CAM prior to entering the hospice setting. 50 percent of those interested in using CAM felt their partner/friend/other family member would also be interested in receiving CAM, and half of that 50 percent reported personal interest in sharing the experience. Reasons reported for CAM interest were to enhance well-being, relaxation, and for pain relief. Further research could explore how resi-dent-caregiver dyads may benefit from shared CAM experiences over the illness trajectory.
Evaluating the Economic loss of Caregiving for Palliative Care Patients
Authors: Jacobs Philip , Dumont Serge , Turcotte Véronique , Anderson Donna
Published: December 2018

Objective: Our aim is to provide a unified measure of the economic burden faced by families during the palliative phase of care and to compare this measure to Statistics Canada's low-income cut-off. Methods: Samples of palliative care patients living at home and their main informal caregivers were recruited in five Canadian urban regions. Interviews were performed every two weeks until the patient's passing, up to a maximum of six months. Participants were asked to provide details about their expenses and their absences from work that related specifically to the patient's condition. Income loss was evaluated for 192 family units. Results: About 9 percent of families incurred economic losses in excess of 10 percent of their pre-study gross annual income; low-income status increased from 27 (before) to 40 (after). Conclusion: This is the first study to provide a unified measure of economic losses of caregiving that can be related to a publicly designated low-income threshold.
End-Of-Life Care for the Dying Child: What Matters Most to Parents
Authors: Weidner Norbert J. , Cameron Marcella , Lee Rebecca C. , McBride Judy , Mathias Emily J. , Byczkowski Terri L.
Published: December 2018

Objective: To identify and define the dimensions of pediatric end-of-life (EOL) care that are important to parents. Population: Parents of children who died as a result of an illness, chronic condition, or birth defect while receiving EOL care in hospital or at home in 2004 and 2005. Design: Qualitative data derived from semi-structured and focus group interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Setting: A large pediatric hospital located in the Midwestern United States. Results: Seven dimensions of pediatric EOL care were identified — respect for the family's role, comfort, spiritual care, access to care and resources, communication, support for parental decision making, and caring/ humanism. Conclusion: There are clear dimensions of pediatric EOL care that are important to parents; these can be defined in terms of health care provider behaviours, some of which require balancing seemingly conflicting objectives. Developing a measurement tool based on these dimensions would help to improve the quality of pediatric EOL care.
Can Addressing Death Anxiety Reduce Health Care Workers’ Burnout and Improve Patient Care?
Authors: Melo Carol Gouveia , Oliver David
Published: December 2018

Death anxiety may interfere with health care workers’ (HCWs) relationships with patients and patients’ families and increase HCWs’ levels of burn-out. This study shows the impact of a six-day course for HCWs that provided training in communication, in offering emotional and spiritual support to patients, and in personal introspection on death anxiety. The HCWs were given questionnaires to evaluate their level of burnout, personal well-being, and death anxiety as well as the quality of their relationships with patients before the course and four months after it. There were 150 study participants, all HCWs involved in caring for dying patients (85 in palliative care units and 65 in other settings). There was a control group of 26 HCWs who cared for the dying in settings other than palliative care units. The results show that the course appeared to lead to a significant reduction in levels of burnout and death anxiety; they also indicated an increase in personal well-being and professional fulfillment, and participants perceived an improvement in the quality of their relationships with patients and patients’ families.
Palliative Cancer Patients’ experience of Physical Activity
Authors: Gulde Ingrid , Oldervoll Line Merethe , Martin Cathrin
Published: December 2018

Results from pilot studies indicate that palliative cancer patients report increased well-being and less fatigue after physical activity. This study aimed to explore how palliative cancer patients experienced physical activity. A qualitative design with semi-structured interviews was used. Eleven palliative cancer patients over 18 years old with different diagnoses and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Scale performance status levels of between 1 and 3 were interviewed. Four main themes emerged: routines of everyday life, less fatigue, professional guidance, and hope. The first theme comprised two categories: something to do, and being together with others in a similar situation. The theme professional guidance also comprised two categories: the physiotherapist as tutor, and the physiotherapist as motivator. Some cancer patients in palliative care who participated in physical activity experienced less fatigue and enhanced energy. Physical activity helps to bring structure to everyday life and gives a feeling of hope for the future.
Medical officers in Acute Care Settings: Their Views on Medically Assisted Hydration at the end of Life
Authors: Good Phillip , Sneesby Ludmilla , Higgins Isabel , Van der Riet Pamela
Published: December 2018

This study explored the perceptions of doctors in acute care settings regarding the use of medically assisted hydration (MAH) in end-of-life care. The use of MAH at the end of life is controversial, and practice varies across health care settings. A qualitative study using discourse analysis was carried out. Eight medical practitioners in the acute care setting were interviewed individually. MAH has been associated with care, comfort, and standard medical intervention to save lives. Medical officers have some concerns about the benefits or adverse effects of MAH at the end of life. In acute care settings, it can be difficult to recognize and diagnose dying. Often, family discussions regarding end-of-life care do not occur due to pursuit of cure and, therefore, continuation of futile and burdensome treatment such as MAH can occur in the last few days of life.
Inequalities in End-Of-Life Care for Colorectal Cancer Patients in Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Maddison André R. , Asada Yukiko , Burge Fred , Johnston Grace W. , Urquhart Robin
Published: December 2018

Access to high-quality end-of-life (EOL) care is critical for all those with incurable cancer. The objective of this study was to examine inequalities in access to, and quality of, EOL care by assessing registration in a palliative care program, emergency room visits in the last 30 days of life, and location of death among individuals who died of colorectal cancer in Nova Scotia, Canada, between 2001 and 2008. We used population-based linked administrative data and performed multivariate logistic regression models to assess the association between socio-economic, geographic, and demographic factors and outcomes related to access to, and quality of, EOL care (n=1,201). This study demonstrates that although access to, and quality of, EOL care appears to have improved, there remain significant inequalities throughout the population. Of primary concern is the variation in access to, and quality of, EOL care based on geographic location of residence and patient age.
Opioid Consumption before and after the establishment of A Palliative Medicine Unit in An Egyptian Cancer Centre
Authors: Alsirafy Samy A. , Ibrahim Noha Y. , Abou-Elela Enas N.
Published: December 2018

Opioid consumption before and after the establishment of a palliative medicine unit (PMU) in an Egyptian cancer centre was reviewed. A comparison of consumption during the year before the PMU was established to consumption during the third year after the PMU's establishment revealed that morphine consumption increased by 698 percent, fentanyl by 217 percent, and tramadol by 230 percent. Expressed in defined daily dose (DDD) and adjusted for 1,000 new cancer patients, consumption increased by 460 percent, from 4,678 DDD/1,000 new patients to 26,175 DDD/1,000 new patients. Expressed in grams of oral morphine equivalent (g OME), consumption increased by 644 percent, from 233 g OME/1,000 new patients to 1,731 g OME/1,000 new patients. The establishment of the PMU was associated with an increase in opioid consumption, especially morphine, which is an indicator of improvement in cancer pain control. The expression of opioid consumption in OME in addition to DDD may provide further information, especially when weak opioids are included in the analysis.
The evaluation of A Triage Tool for A Community Palliative Care Service Provider
Authors: Tan Heather , O'Connor Margaret , Wearne Helen , Howard Teresa
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Triage, widely used by the military and emergency departments, has not been reported in community palliative care services. Policy designed to improve equitable provision of this care has led to the development of a triage tool. Methods: Retrospective data were collected (50 percent of referrals, n=204) and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to determine the accuracy of the tool in predicting patient status at the first visit. Semi-structured interviews (n=7) with palliative care service staff added qualitative data. Results: Although significant differences between triage scores compared to outcomes at first visit were observed, issues such as upgrading of triage category compared to priority score occurred in more than 30 percent of cases. When correction for this was made, the tool was found to be an accurate guide to patient needs. Conclusion: This tool, when used as intended, was effective in assessing the urgency of need, and it is potentially useful on a wider scale, subject to further evaluation.
Children Dying from Cancer: Parents’ Perspectives on Symptoms, Quality of Life, Characteristics of Death, and End-of-Life Decisions
Authors: von Lützau Pia , Otto Michael , Hechler Tanja , Metzing Sabine , Wolfe Joanne , Zernikow Boris
Published: December 2018

In this study, we investigated the experience of children who died of cancer, as perceived by their parents. All the pediatric oncology departments in one German federal state were contacted and asked to invite parents who had lost a child to cancer in the period 2005–2006 to participate. Those parents who accepted were interviewed by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. In the participating 16 departments, 158 children died in 2005–2006. Parents of 48 children (38.3 percent) agreed to participate and were interviewed. Nearly all of the children had suffered from at least one distressing symptom. Pain and fatigue occurred most frequently. Symptoms were successfully treated over 65 percent of the time. In all, 64 percent of the children received home care services; 50 percent died at home, and only 10 percent in the ICU. Results suggest that some progress has been made in pediatric palliative care. To further improve end-of-life care for children with cancer, it is also necessary to evaluate parents’ perspectives on structures for pediatric palliative care delivery.
Living Fully in the shadow of Mortal Time: Psychosocial Assets in Advanced Cancer
Authors: Wise Meg , Marchand Lucille
Published: December 2018

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the strategies and psychosocial conditions that influence how resilient people live in the face of advanced cancer. Methods: Grounded theory interviews and a survey of 10 resilient people with advanced cancer were collected and analyzed. Findings: Personal assets — including positive relationships, purpose in life, faith, and mastery — contributed to living fully in mortal time. Strategies included embracing paradox, reframing time, deepening connections, and aligning actions with priorities. Open-ended interviews yielded rich illness and life stories; many participants requested a copy of the transcript. Conclusion: Resilient people use a range of strategies to thrive in the face of advanced cancer.
External validation of A Web-Based Prognostic Tool for Predicting Survival for Patients in Hospice Care
Authors: Miladinovic Branko , Mhaskar Rahul , Kumar Ambuj , Kim Sehwan , Schonwetter Ronald , Djulbegovic Benjamin
Published: December 2018

Prognostat is an interactive Web-based prognostic tool for estimating hospice patient survival based on a patient's Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score, age, gender, and cancer status. The tool was developed using data from 5,893 palliative care patients, which was collected at the Victoria Hospice in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, beginning in 1994. This study externally validates Prognostat with a retrospective cohort of 590 hospice patients at LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care in Florida, USA. The criteria used to evaluate the prognostic performance were the Brier score, area under the receiver operating curve, discrimination slope, and Hosmer-Lemeshow good-ness-of-fit test. Though the Kaplan-Meier curves show each PPS level to be distinct and significantly different, the findings reveal low agreement between observed survival in our cohort of patients and survival predicted by the prognostic tool. Before developing a new prognostic model, researchers are encouraged to update survival estimates obtained using Prognostat with the information from their cohort of patients. If it is to be useful to patients and clinicians, Prognostat needs to explicitly report patient risk scores and estimates of baseline survival.
“What She Told Us Made the world of Difference”: Carers’ Perspectives on A Hospice at Home Service
Authors: McKay Elizabeth A. , Taylor Ann E. , Armstrong Claire
Published: December 2018

This paper explores the expectations and needs of current and bereaved carers whose relatives received care at home from a palliative care team. Aim: A hospice at home service was established in 2006 to provide patients with care in their own homes. We examined whether this model of care was helpful in mitigating carers’ burden and in enabling terminally ill patients to be cared for and die at home. Methods: This study utilized a survey and interviews. Participants were carers in the midwest of Ireland. Survey responses from 122 carers were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., 2009); interviews with 15 carers were also conducted. Results: Carers’ expectations of the service were often exceeded, and quality of care dimensions were rated highly. Future improvements could include facilitating discussions on place of death and offering bereavement support. Conclusion: The service is supporting carers in facilitating their relatives’ choice to die at home.
Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome in A Palliative Care Population: Frequency and Impact
Authors: Walia Harneet K. , Shalhoub George , Ramsammy Verai , Harrington Michael , Thornton J. Daryl , Auckley Dennis
Published: December 2018

Objectives: We hypothesized that restless legs syndrome (RLS) would be common and associated with impaired quality of life (QOL) among palliative care outpatients. Methods: 76 palliative care clinic patients completed the National Institutes of Health restless legs syndrome (NIH-RLS) screening questionnaire. Questionnaire data was also gathered on RLS severity and RLS-related QOL, and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to measure QOL. Analysis was performed for associations between RLS categorization and QOL measures. Results: 31 patients (40.8 percent) met criteria for RLS. RLS-positive patients had moderate-to-severe RLS symptoms and impaired RLS-specific QOL. RLS-positive patients scored lower on the mental component of the SF–12 (39 ± 11 versus 45 ± 12, p=0.03), though not on the physical component. In a multivariate regression analysis, higher levels of RLS severity had 2-point lower SF-12 mental component scores compared to lower levels of RLS severity (p=0.04), with no difference in physical component scores (p=0.47). Conclusion: RLS appears common in palliative care outpatients and is associated with impairments in QOL.
Experience of Guilt and Strategies for Coping with Guilt in Patients with Severe Copd: A Qualitative Interview Study
Authors: Strang Susann , Farrell Mary , Larsson Lars-Olof , Sjöstrand Charlotte , Gunnarsson Anna , Ekberg-Jansson Ann , Strang Peter
Published: December 2018

Guilt is associated with an increased level of mood disturbance and a poorer quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore how patients with severe COPD view and experience guilt and the ways in which they cope with this guilt. A total of 31 COPD patients were interviewed about their perceptions and experiences of guilt. Qualitative content analysis was used to examine the interviews. In the descriptive (manifest) analysis, the categories “not feeling personal guilt” and “experiencing guilt” emerged; in the interpretative (latent) analysis, various strategies for dealing with guilt were identified — for example, acceptance or blaming others. Relatively few patients reported that they felt guilt on a conscious level, but those who did expressed anguish, and remorse before God; some felt blamed by others. It is important that healthcare providers acknowledge the guilt that their patients express, since guilt may have adverse effects on the patients’ overall health.
Initiation of Chemotherapy in Cancer Patients with Poor Performance Status: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Porter Joan , Earle Craig , Atzema Clare , Liu Ying , Howell Doris , Seow Hsien , Sutradhar Rinku , Dudgeon Deborah , Husain Amna , Sussman Jonathan , Barbera Lisa
Published: December 2018

Objective: Practice guidelines indicate that patients who have months to weeks left to live should not be offered chemotherapy. We examined factors associated with clinician-reported poor performance status as determined by the Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) and subsequent initiation of intravenous (IV) chemotherapy in an ambulatory cancer population in Ontario, Canada. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients who had at least one PPS assessment indicating poor performance status (a PPS score of 50 or lower) comprised the study cohort. Using linked administrative databases, we observed the cohort for initiation of IV chemotherapy within 30 days of the first (index) poor PPS assessment. Results: We excluded patients for whom IV or oral chemotherapy was on going or recently completed or whose performance status improved following the index assessment. Of the remaining cohort, 9.3 percent (264/2,842) received IV chemotherapy within 30 days of the index PPS. Conclusion: A small number of cancer patients with poor performance status began IV chemotherapy in the month following assessment.

Objectif: Les directives de pratiques cliniques recommandent que l'on ne propose pas de traitements de chimiothérapie aux patients présentant une espérance de survie de quelques semaines à quelques mois. Nous avons examiné, chez un groupe de patients atteints du cancer en Ontario, au Canada, les éléments associés au faible statut des malades selon les paramètres de l'Έchelle de performance pour soins palliatifs afin d'identifier les facteurs qui ont déterminé l'amorce de la chimiothérapie. Méthode: Cette étude rétrospective comprenait les patients chez qui lors du test d'évaluation de performance on avait noté au moins un élément négatif, soit un score de performance de 50 ou moins. En utilisant plusieurs banques de données administratives interreliées, nous avons étudié cette cohorte de patients devant être traités par chimiothérapie au cours de la période de 30 jours suivant leur évaluation. Résultats: Nous avons exclu les patients pour lesquels le traitement de chimiothérapie orale ou intraveineuse était déjà en cours ou récemment terminé ou ceux dont le statut s'était amélioré selon l'Έchelle de performance. De la partie restante de la cohorte, 9,3 pourcent (264/2 842) ont reçu le traitement par voie intraveineuse à l'intérieur des 30 jours suivant l'indice de l'Έchelle de performance. Conclusion: Un petit nombre de patients ayant un faible statut ont commencé la traitement de chimiothérapie au cours du mois suivant l'évaluation.
Biodegradable and biocompatible polymers for electronic applications: A review
Authors: Cao Yue , Uhrich Kathryn E
Published: December 2018

Electronic products enhance our lives and bring change in almost every field including communications, entertainment, and healthcare. However, the fast-growing surplus of electronic waste has become a serious challenge to the environment: the majority of these toxic materials are deposited directly into landfills or incinerated because recycling is difficult and/or expensive. Electronic devices manufactured with biocompatible and biodegradable polymers are in demand because they are environmentally safe, of low cost, of potentially large volume, and are disposable. In addition, biocompatible and biodegradable electronics may enable the use of electronic devices in implantable biomedical applications. This review is focused on polymer materials, both natural and synthetic, that are utilized in biodegradable and/or biocompatible electronic devices as substrates, dielectrics, conductors, or semiconductors. Specific application examples are highlighted, such as biodegradable electronic devices, implantable medical devices, and edible sensors.
Fault-tolerant control for vehicle with vertical and lateral dynamics
Authors: Sun Jinwei , Cong JingYu , Gu Liang , Dong Mingming
Published: December 2018

As the possibility of sensor faults in the vehicle chassis system is higher and influences the vehicle stability, this paper deals with active fault-tolerant control for vehicle with vertical and lateral dynamics. It focuses on the combined control of active suspension system and electronic stability control with sensor faults based on the interaction between vehicle with vertical and lateral dynamics. A 9-degree-of-freedom vehicle integrated model is adopted for accurate control. The aim of the controller is to improve riding comfort when the vehicle is driving straight and improve lateral stability when the vehicle is steering in the presence of external disturbances and sensor faults. First, an H∞-based method is introduced to reconstruct the sensor fault signals, and meanwhile, the method can also observe the unmeasured signals. Based on the reconstruction faults and observed signals, a gain scheduling controller is utilized to guarantee the performance of the integrated model under different driving conditions, and the steering input is chosen as the scheduling parameter. Three different conditions, step steering input, single lane change input, and sensor faults, are considered. The main contributions of this study are as follows: (1) an H∞-based observer was designed for sensor fault estimation of the vertical and lateral integrated model and (2) a gain scheduling controller was designed to improve the performance of the integrated system. Simulations results indicated that the active fault-tolerant controller can reconstruct sensor faults and observe the unmeasured states exactly, and the linear parameter varying framework–based gain scheduling controller ensures the system performance adaptively.
Hydraulic anti-lock braking control strategy of a vehicle based on a modified optimal sliding mode control method
Authors: Wang Jun-Cheng , He Ren
Published: December 2018

The objective of this paper is to propose a modified optimal sliding mode control method for the hydraulic anti-lock braking system of a vehicle to achieve both robustness and optimal control performance. The longitudinal dynamic model of a vehicle, tyre model and hydraulic anti-lock braking system model are established, and the weakness of the common optimal sliding mode control method in designing the anti-lock braking system controller is analysed synthetically. The analyses form the basis for tracking an ideal slip ratio. A new modified optimal sliding mode controller is proposed to regulate the hydraulic anti-lock braking system for a better braking performance and robustness: the optimal sliding mode manifold function includes several virtual damping elements and infinitely small-sized items to meet the working conditions of the current optimal sliding mode control method. The control results of the proposed controller are compared with those of the common sliding mode controller. Simulation results under various road conditions demonstrate that the modified optimal sliding mode controller not only has strong robustness against uncertainties in the road adhesion coefficient but also achieves better control performance of the slip ratio.
A complete Holocene climate and environment record for the Western Carpathians (Slovakia) derived from a tufa deposit
Authors: Dabkowski Julie , Frodlová Jitka , Hájek Michal , Hájková Petra , Petr Libor , Fiorillo Denis , Dudová Lydie , Horsák Michal
Published: December 2018

Calcareous tufas are great archives of geochemical information for the reconstruction of past climate. Their importance increases in the regions where other proxies are rare, such as Western Carpathians. Here, we present the first whole-Holocene palaeoclimatic reconstruction for this region based on geochemical proxies. We analysed δ18O, δ13C and Mg/Ca ratio on tufa calcite of the Mituchovci site (White Carpathian Mountains, W Slovakia) and compared these with pollen, plant macrofossil and mollusc data. According to δ18O, two distinct thermal maxima occurred in the region, around 11.4 ka and between 7.3 and 6.9 ka BP. According to δ13C and Mg/Ca ratio, a steep increase in moisture and rainfall took place around 8.5 ka cal. BP, preceded by a cold and dry event. These events are well reflected in the biotic proxies and are suggested also by other palaeoenvironmental studies from the Carpathians. We found some later fluctuations, with dry and warm Bronze Age (ca. 3.6 ka cal. BP), cold and wet Urnfield period (ca. 2.8 ka cal. BP), warm Roman period (ca. 2 ka cal. BP) and cold but humid Migration period (ca. 1.5 ka cal. BP). We observed extreme abruptness and amplitude of the variation in all geochemical proxies in the last 500 years, when biotic proxies imply a very intense human deforestation. Land-use changes may have altered both the temperature regime in the studied fen and the carbon cycle in the recharge area.
Protective effect of essential oil from Citrus limon against aspirin-induced toxicity in rats
Authors: Bouzenna H , Samout N , Dhibi S , Mbarki S , Akermi S , Khdhiri A , Elfeki A , Hfaiedh N
Published: December 2018

The present study is planned to examine the antioxidant activity (AA) and the protective effect of the essential oil of Citrus limon (EOC) against aspirin-induced histopathological changes in the brain, lung, and intestine of female rats. For this purpose, 28 albino rats were classified to control group (group C), aspirin group (group A), EOC group (group EOC), and pretreatment with EOC and treated with aspirin group (group EOC + A). The antioxidant activities of EOC were evaluated by three different assays including reducing power, β-carotene, and scavenging of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Our results found that EOC represents, respectively (0.064 ± 0.013 and 0.027 ± 00 mg Quer E/100 µL), of flavonoid and flavonol. Then, it exhibited a potential activity of reducing power (at 300 mg/mL, which was found to be 0.82 ± 0.07), β-carotene-linoleic acid (AA% = 69.28 ± 3.5%), and scavenging of H2O2 (IC50 = 0.23 ± 0.008 mg/mL). In vivo, aspirin given to rats at the dose of 600 mg/kg body weight induced histomorphological damage in brain, lung, and intestine. However, our data found that the pretreatment with EOC offered a significant protection against the injury induced by aspirin. It can be concluded that the protective effect of EOC can be due to its antioxidant activities.
Effects of nano- and micro-sized inorganic filers on the performance of epoxy hybrid nanocoatings
Authors: Parimalam Muvinkumar , Islam Muhammad Remanul , Yunus Rosli Mohd
Published: December 2018

Epoxy-based composite coatings were prepared using nanosilica (silicon dioxide (SiO2)) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Different concentrations (5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 wt%) of micro-sized ZnO particles were used along with a fixed amount (20.0 wt%) of nanosilica particles. The functional groups of the composite coatings were confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This result indicated that SiO2–ZnO particles were cross-linked with the epoxy. The scanning electron microscopy images of the samples revealed a good dispersion of ZnO particles. In addition, the samples showed an improved adhesive and chemical resistance properties as measured by the cross-cut tape test and chemical resistivity testing. At higher loading of ZnO, the composite coating showed poor properties. Besides that, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer were used to characterize the composite coatings. The properties were enhanced at higher loading of ZnO particles. The oxygen transmission rate was also impressive compare with the neat epoxy.
British Army and Palestine Police Deserters and the Arab–Israeli War of 1948
Authors: Caden Christopher , Arielli Nir
Published: December 2018

British servicemen and policemen who had been stationed in Palestine towards the end of the British Mandate and deserted their units to serve with either Jewish or Arab forces have only received cursory academic attention. This article retraces their story, while drawing parallels and highlighting contrasts between both groups of deserters. It analyses their motivations, wartime roles, and experiences and how they were remembered after the war ended. It also places them within the emerging literature on transnational military service.
Book review: Ramesh Soundararajan and Kuldeep Singh. 2016. Winning on HR Analytics: Leveraging Data for Competitive Advantage
Authors: Sharma Santosh Kumar
Published: December 2018

Ramesh Soundararajan and Kuldeep Singh. 2016. Winning on HR Analytics: Leveraging Data for Competitive Advantage. SAGE Publications, Pp 244, ₹425, ISBN: 9789386042415.
A Whole School Approach to Career Education
Authors: Robinson Gloria
Published: December 2018

Who is responsible for career education? Why teach it anyway? This case study explores these questions as it describes a mapping process used to ascertain the extent of career education in a North Queensland school.
An Evaluation
Authors: Walker Gail
Published: December 2018

Considerable time and energy goes into the organisation of careers expos held each year in many parts of Australia. While in some centres these have been replaced by alternative forms of information-sharing on careers, in other places they have persisted either as the regular careers event of the year or run to complement a range of careers activities. In Darwin, alternatives have been considered yet there has been some reluctance to forego the annual event. To analyse the success of the 1996 Darwin Careers Expo, a survey of exhibitors, teachers and students was undertaken on behalf of the Careers Expo Planning Committee. Students completed the survey in a very positive way, and their cooperation warrants acknowledgment. Overall, the results affirm the benefits of the organisers’ and exhibiters’ efforts and provide some insights into ways of improving the next Expo.
The challenges of the Job Market in Poland and Hungary
Authors: Wilkins Linda , Banyasz Agnes
Published: December 2018

In 1995–96, the authors of this paper visited a number of university departments and language centres in Hungary and Poland. They were invited to participate as course leaders and advisers in a number of workshops, seminars, short courses and professional development exercises. The following case studies draw on these experiences to highlight a range of career development and employment-related issues affecting individuals and organisations during the transition to the market economy in central Europe.
Setting up A Career Resource Centre
Authors: Hosking Karin
Published: December 2018

Many careers services are realising the increasing importance of access to accurate information, and are further developing resource centres that clients can use to research their work and study options. When the Careers and Appointments Service at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) was re-established in early 1995, a career resource centre was created to support career counselling activities, and to give students access to a wide range of employer and occupational information. This case study outlines the tasks undertaken in setting up the centre, and reflects on issues involved.
Career choice of Vietnamese Australian Tertiary Students
Authors: Rainey Linda
Published: December 2018

The process of career choice undertaken by Australian tertiary students from Vietnamese-speaking backgrounds is investigated and findings are compared to related research. The purpose was to provide an informed knowledge base for interventions that might affect the course participation and employment rates of these students. The survey results revealed that the process was culturally determined in some areas, but showed evidence of an individualistic awareness of self as independent decision-makers which was not described in the literature consulted.
School Subject Selection by Students in the Post-Compulsory Years
Authors: Haeusler Colin , Kay Russell
Published: December 2018

An investigation of Year 11 students’ (n=1580) responses to possible reasons contributing to subject selection for the Higher School Certificate in New South Wales indicated that the most important reasons were related to assistance in obtaining work or with future studies. The perception that particular subjects would be “scaled up” for inclusion in the Tertiary Entrance Rank was of limited importance in subject choice with the exception of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Furthermore, interest in course content and the belief that they would do well were important in the selection of Creative Arts and Social Science subjects. Results are discussed in light of related research and the implications for career education in schools.
Discrimination and the world of Work A Coming
Authors: Puplick Chris
Published: December 2018

Working life is in the process of radical and rapid transformation. Unemployment remaining high through recession and recovery, corporate downsizing, more casual and part-time work together with more intense job insecurity mark the outlines of the emergent “30–30–40” society. At the same time, Australian society is also being transformed by such influences as a more evidently diverse population arising from migration inflows and the changing social and economic roles of men and women. In these changes, Australia reflects internationally observable phenomena. Discrimination law both encourages and stands witness to such transformations, but appears so far to have limited influence in promoting disadvantaged minorities to the top tables of privilege. Women, people from non-English-speaking backgrounds and indigenous Australians are more evident in the workplace, but access and equity questions for them remain unresolved. Nonetheless, acceptance of social diversity and the ability to navigate it will provide the keys to the future.
A study of Unskilled Workers in Australia
Authors: Hosking Karin , Athanasou James
Published: December 2018

Many researchers have expected that there should be a significant and positive relationship between interests and job satisfaction. Yet an examination of 32 previous studies involving more than 15,000 subjects showed an overall correlation of only 0.15 between congruence and job satisfaction. Moreover, there has been a preoccupation with professional careers and only one previous study considered unskilled workers. This article describes an Australian study that used structured interviews and questionnaires to assess unskilled and skilled workers’ interests and satisfaction. There was little evidence of a relationship. Other job components -such as coworkers, pay, conditions, closeness to home and expectations - may be more important in determining workers’ satisfaction than whether or not their interests are congruent with their jobs.
Research Digest
Authors: Donohue Ross
Published: December 2018

This section of the journal includes abstracts of research. Research reported is at varying stages from early development of ideas to completion. Authors of abstracts would like to hear from anyone else working in their area. Please contact authors if you are interested, either through the Editor or direct.
The benefits of Integrating Internet Technologies into Careers Services
Authors: Smith Martin
Published: December 2018

This case study reviews the integration of Internet technologies into careers services, with a particular focus on gradlink, a new interactive system that uses the Internet to link university graduates with potential employers via university careers services. After introducing the new system, a case of the system in use is illustrated.
Job Applications Using the Internet
Authors: Murry Jeanette
Published: December 2018

Many Australian-based companies are currently providing company information on-line. Now some companies are introducing the option of on-line job applications. The Internet will also play a key role in the delivery of employment services when the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs launches new labour market reforms in 1998. What is the difference between a keyword, an online, an HTML and a scannable résumé? What about security issues? This article examines what careers professionals need to know in order to advise their clients about this type of job application.

Using the Internet for job applications speeds up the process of applying for a job. Job seekers can obtain an application form, company information, fill out the form and submit it in a much shorter period of time than using other communication methods. The production of stunning looking resumes is no advantage for e-mail, scannable or on-line applications. With these types of resume, uniform presentation is essential and the content of the resume is the primary feature, with keywords of paramount importance. Conversely, for HTML resumes presentation is crucial and those who can turn their resume into an interesting multimedia presentation will have an advantage over other applicants.

Jandt and Nemnich (1995) and Riley (1996) are resources that careers professionals may find useful. The main requirement for careers professionals is to develop a good knowledge of the jargon, which will enable advisers to provide helpful assistance to their clients. Understanding how the various kinds of resumes differ from each other is also necessary to giving sound advice. Finally, clients need to be made aware of the security and privacy issues that may arise when making electronic job applications.
New Methodologies for Global Health Research: Improving the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey Model Through Participatory Research in Haiti
Authors: Tillyard Grace , DeGennaro Vincent
Published: December 2018

Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey models are a common tool used by researchers and global health practitioners to reveal insights necessary for health program design and implementation. We explore how an interdisciplinary team of medical practitioners, researchers, designers, and community members improved the KAP survey tool in Haiti by drawing on participatory research methods. The overall objective of the project was to build a new approach to investigating and meeting community health needs and specifically the challenges faced by women with breast and cervical cancer in Haiti. The research findings were used to design an education tool kit for health care providers as well as create a community-based engagement strategy to better connect people to cancer screening and treatment facilities. By infusing the KAP survey model with participatory approaches to knowledge production, the advisory board designed a survey tool that generated more relevant and in-depth knowledge with the community while maintaining the study’s simplicity and complying with a time-limited budget.
Religious/Spiritual Coping Methods Among Cancer Patients in Portugal
Authors: Ahmadi Fereshteh , Matos Paula Mena , Tavares Rita , Tomás Carla , Ahmadi Nader
Published: December 2018

This article is part of an international study on meaning-making coping aimed at understanding the role of culture in coping in different cultural settings. The international study was conducted among cancer patients in 10 countries. This article contains the results obtained in the study in Portugal. The main aim is to investigate the impact of culture on the meaning-making coping methods used by cancer patients. In this article, only religious/spiritual coping methods are in focus. Thirty-one participants with various kinds of cancer (e.g., breast, testicular, lymphoma) were interviewed. Nine different kinds of coping methods related to religion and spirituality emerged from analysis of the interviews. These methods, which are categorized on the basis of religious coping’s five basic religious functions, are as follows: seeking spiritual support, spiritual connection, spiritual discontent, benevolent religious reappraisal, punishing god reappraisal, God’s trust in personal strength, support from clergy or members, self-directing religious coping, and active religious surrender. The study confirms the notion that the strategies people employ when they are stricken by disease, accidents, misfortune, and so on are cultural and temporal constructions. As such, they are valid in concrete contexts and time periods. It is, thus, important that cultural context be taken into consideration when exploring the use of meaning-making coping strategies in different countries.
Primary Pulmonary Meningioma With Rhabdoid Features
Authors: Žulpaitė Rūta , Jagelavičius Žymantas , Mickys Ugnius , Janilionis Ričardas
Published: December 2018

Only 1% to 2% of meningiomas have primary extrameningeal location, which is mostly head and neck region. Primary pulmonary meningiomas (PPMs) are even more uncommon with up to 50 cases reported in the literature. Only 5 cases of PPM with confirmed or possible malignancy have been previously described. Three-grade classification of meningiomas with the accordingly growing risk of aggressive behavior of the tumor has been proposed by the World Health Organization. As it is based on correlations between morphological and clinical features of intracranial meningiomas, the analogous prediction of ectopic tumors prognosis remains questionable due to scarce number of cases. In this article, we present a rare case of PPM with rhabdoid features (World Health Organization grade III), which lacked other signs of malignancy. The patient is doing well for 2 years after the thoracoscopic wedge resection without evidence of the disease recurrence.
Severe Flexible Pes Planovalgus Deformity Correction Using Trabecular Metallic Wedges
Authors: Tsai Justin , McDonald Elizabeth , Sutton Ryan , Raikin Steven M.
Published: December 2018

Background:

Lateral column lengthening and plantarflexion dorsal opening wedge osteotomy of the medial cuneiform are 2 commonly used procedures to address the deformity seen in severe flexible pes planovalgus deformity. Traditionally, iliac crest allograft or autograft has been used to fill the osteotomy sites. Porous metallic wedges can be used as an alternative to avoid the concerns associated with both autograft and allograft.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of patients who had corrective osteotomies utilizing metallic wedges to address flexible pes planovalgus with at least 2 years of follow-up data. Preoperative radiographic measurements (anteroposterior [AP] and talo-first metatarsal angle, calcaneal pitch, talocalcaneal angle, and talonavicular uncoverage angle) and functional scores (visual analog scale [VAS] pain, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM] Activities of Daily Living [ADL], FAAM Sports) were compared to postoperative radiographic measurements and functional scores.

Results:

There were statistically significant improvements in all radiographic parameters and functional scores. Two nonunions were seen, one of which healed with revision surgery while the other was asymptomatic. At the time of last radiographic follow-up, there were no recurrences of deformity or collapse.

Conclusion:

Porous metallic wedges offer an attractive alternative to autograft and/or allograft in the setting of corrective osteotomies for severe flexible pes planovalgus. Patients who underwent corrective osteotomies using these wedges demonstrated reliable, effective, and stable radiographic correction as well as significant improvements in function and pain.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Tamoxifen-induced hepatotoxicity caused by drug interaction with direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C
Authors: Wyffels Klara , Horsmans Yves
Published: December 2018

A 68-year-old man develops acute hepatocellular injury during treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) for hepatitis C. Medical history reveals the intake of tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for breast cancer, currently in remission. After stopping tamoxifen, despite the continuation of the anti-HCV agents, a complete resolution of liver injury occurs. This interesting case illustrates tamoxifen hepatotoxicity induced by CYP3A4 interaction with direct anti-HCV agents. It stresses the importance of checking for interactions before starting treatment for hepatitis C.