title: Hydrolysed protein as a renewable plasticiser for renewable materials

authors: Suratkar, Tanvi

subjects: renewable

abstract: Novatein Thermoplastic (NTP) is a bloodmeal based plastic developed by the University of Waikato by mixing bloodmeal (by-product of slaughterhouses) with water, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium sulfite and urea, and plasticiser so it can be extruded and injection moulded. The aim of this research was to produce a low molecular weight bloodmeal with low salt content to replace tri-ethylene glycol as a plasticiser for NTP.

Bloodmeal was hydrolysed using alcalase, enzyme mixture of chymotrypsin and trypsin, and papain which was later ultrafiltered to obtain low molecular weight peptides of 5 -12 kDa. All the three enzymes provided low degree of hydrolysis while chymotrypsin/trypsin provided high yield of 65% followed by alcalase with 45% yield and papain with 23% yield. The amount of enzyme, bloodmeal concentration and pH governed the rate of hydrolysis. By ultrafiltering the hydrolysate, a low salt content was achieved.

Large scale hydrolysis was carried out to produce hydrolysate for addition in NTP as a substitute for triethylene glycol. The hydrolysate was ultrafiltered to produce peptides of low molecular weight (less than 10 kDa) in permeate and retentate. Extrusion of mixtures with hydrolysate produced extrudates with lower specific mechanical energy than standard NTP, and the extrudate had a good appearance visually.  Tensile strength, impact strength, secant modulus, energy at break, and glass transition temperature, and thermal stability generally decreased with increasing the amount of hydrolysate added. A similar trend was observed for its impact strength but overall, the impact strength improved.

text: Hydrolysed protein as a renewable plasticiser for renewable materials Novatein Thermoplastic (NTP) is a bloodmeal based plastic developed by the University of Waikato by mixing bloodmeal (by-product of slaughterhouses) with water, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium sulfite and urea, and plasticiser so it can be extruded and injection moulded. The aim of this research was to produce a low molecular weight bloodmeal with low salt content to replace tri-ethylene glycol as a plasticiser for NTP.

Bloodmeal was hydrolysed using alcalase, enzyme mixture of chymotrypsin and trypsin, and papain which was later ultrafiltered to obtain low molecular weight peptides of 5 -12 kDa. All the three enzymes provided low degree of hydrolysis while chymotrypsin/trypsin provided high yield of 65% followed by alcalase with 45% yield and papain with 23% yield. The amount of enzyme, bloodmeal concentration and pH governed the rate of hydrolysis. By ultrafiltering the hydrolysate, a low salt content was achieved.

Large scale hydrolysis was carried out to produce hydrolysate for addition in NTP as a substitute for triethylene glycol. The hydrolysate was ultrafiltered to produce peptides of low molecular weight (less than 10 kDa) in permeate and retentate. Extrusion of mixtures with hydrolysate produced extrudates with lower specific mechanical energy than standard NTP, and the extrudate had a good appearance visually.  Tensile strength, impact strength, secant modulus, energy at break, and glass transition temperature, and thermal stability generally decreased with increasing the amount of hydrolysate added. A similar trend was observed for its impact strength but overall, the impact strength improved.

year: 2016

title: Oncology Nurses' Knowledge of Survivorship Care Planning: The Need for Education

authors: Lester, Joanne L.

subjects: late effects of cancer treatment

abstract: Purpose/Objectives: To survey nurses about their knowledge of cancer survivorship care.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting: Midwestern comprehensive cancer center.

Sample: 223 registered and advanced practice nurses.

Methods: Online survey of survivorship knowledge using a 50-item questionnaire derived from the Institute of Medicine report and related publications.

Main Research Variables: Concepts of survivorship care and common long-term symptoms.

Findings: Most nurses reported having knowledge about healthy lifestyle habits; more than 50% of nurses reported having knowledge about chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, as well as side effects of fatigue, depression, limitations of daily activities, and weight gain; less than 50% of nurses reported having knowledge of impact on family, biologic agents, lymphedema, immunizations or vaccinations, and osteoporosis screening; less than 40% of nurses reported having knowledge about marital and partner relationships, osteoporosis prevention and care, sexuality, side effects of bone marrow transplantation, employment issues, and angiogenesis agents; and less than 25% of nurses reported having knowledge on genetic risks, as well as fertility, financial, and insurance issues.

Conclusions: Oncology nurses at an academic comprehensive cancer center reported gaps in knowledge consistent with previous studies about knowledge of survivorship care.

Implications for Nursing: The Institute of Medicine has challenged oncology providers to address cancer survivorship care planning. Gaps in cancer survivorship knowledge are evident and will require focused education for this initiative to be successful.

text: Oncology Nurses' Knowledge of Survivorship Care Planning: The Need for Education Purpose/Objectives: To survey nurses about their knowledge of cancer survivorship care.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting: Midwestern comprehensive cancer center.

Sample: 223 registered and advanced practice nurses.

Methods: Online survey of survivorship knowledge using a 50-item questionnaire derived from the Institute of Medicine report and related publications.

Main Research Variables: Concepts of survivorship care and common long-term symptoms.

Findings: Most nurses reported having knowledge about healthy lifestyle habits; more than 50% of nurses reported having knowledge about chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, as well as side effects of fatigue, depression, limitations of daily activities, and weight gain; less than 50% of nurses reported having knowledge of impact on family, biologic agents, lymphedema, immunizations or vaccinations, and osteoporosis screening; less than 40% of nurses reported having knowledge about marital and partner relationships, osteoporosis prevention and care, sexuality, side effects of bone marrow transplantation, employment issues, and angiogenesis agents; and less than 25% of nurses reported having knowledge on genetic risks, as well as fertility, financial, and insurance issues.

Conclusions: Oncology nurses at an academic comprehensive cancer center reported gaps in knowledge consistent with previous studies about knowledge of survivorship care.

Implications for Nursing: The Institute of Medicine has challenged oncology providers to address cancer survivorship care planning. Gaps in cancer survivorship knowledge are evident and will require focused education for this initiative to be successful.

year: 2014-02-27

title: Biculturalism in practice, ‘Te Pounamu’: Integration of a Māori model with traditional clinical assessment processes

authors: Manna, Leona

subjects: Maori

abstract: Traditional clinical psychological assessment follows a western paradigm of interaction, which relies heavily on verbalisations of internal and external symptoms. This process relies upon the assumption of and acceptance that tangata whaiora (consumer/s) are able to do this. Training encourages a clinical psychologist to take into account differences which may or may not be obvious, e.g., differences in religious beliefs, gender, hearing, or sight. However, as clinicians we often neglect to assess tangata whaiora abilities to verbalise such information. Te Pounamu, as a Māori model demonstrates the underlying principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Providing the best treatment outcomes is about acknowledging all aspects of one’s wellbeing: physical, mental, spiritual, and whānau. Te Pounamu provides a process that acknowledges such aspects in a way of knowing that is healing. From clinical experience, the interactive mode that Te Pounamu utilises has been found efficacious in assisting tangata whaiora to understand how such factors contribute to poor mental health.

text: Biculturalism in practice, ‘Te Pounamu’: Integration of a Māori model with traditional clinical assessment processes Traditional clinical psychological assessment follows a western paradigm of interaction, which relies heavily on verbalisations of internal and external symptoms. This process relies upon the assumption of and acceptance that tangata whaiora (consumer/s) are able to do this. Training encourages a clinical psychologist to take into account differences which may or may not be obvious, e.g., differences in religious beliefs, gender, hearing, or sight. However, as clinicians we often neglect to assess tangata whaiora abilities to verbalise such information. Te Pounamu, as a Māori model demonstrates the underlying principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Providing the best treatment outcomes is about acknowledging all aspects of one’s wellbeing: physical, mental, spiritual, and whānau. Te Pounamu provides a process that acknowledges such aspects in a way of knowing that is healing. From clinical experience, the interactive mode that Te Pounamu utilises has been found efficacious in assisting tangata whaiora to understand how such factors contribute to poor mental health.

year: 2003