[The relationships among stress, physio-psycho-social status, coping behaviors and personality traits of nursing students during first time clinical practice].

First-time clinical practice is stressful. However, every person's perception of stress, responses to stress and coping methods are different. It is important to examine the relationships between these phenomena and personality traits.

Adsorption characteristics of benzene on biosolid adsorbent.

This study selected biosolids from a petrochemical wastewater treatment plant as the raw material. The sludge was immersed in 0 to 5 mol l(-1) of ZnCl2 solutions and pyrolyzed at different temperatures. When the sludge was pyrolyzed for 30 min at temperatures of 400, 500, 600, and 700 degrees C, the corresponding surface area of the biosolid adsorbent was 46, 401, 921, and 727 m2/g, respectively.

Thiol oxidation by 2,2'-dithiodipyridine induced calcium mobilization in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells.

2,2'-dithiodipyridine (2,2'-DTDP), a reactive disulphide that mobilizes Ca(2+) in muscle, induced an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca(2+)concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dye fura-2. 2,2'-DTDP acted in a concentration-independent manner with an EC(50) of 50 microM. The Ca(2+) signal comprised an initial spike and a prolonged increase.

Cadmium adsorption on goethite-coated sand in the presence of humic acid.

Heat was employed to coat crystalline goethite onto a quartz sand surface so that the adsorbent properties of the coating could be utilized. The adsorption characteristics of cadmium and humic acid onto goethite-coated sand were examined. Results show that the goethite-coated sand surface had a higher specific surface area and more mesopores than the uncoated sand.

Does increased leukotriene B4 in type 1 diabetes result from elevated cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity?

Elevated cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity has been reported in type 1 diabetic subjects and may be one cause of the high incidence of macrovascular complications in these patients. LDL delivers arachidonic acid (AA), in the form of cholesteryl ester (CE), to cells such as monocytes and fibroblasts, as precursor for eicosanoid synthesis. We discovered that AA content in LDL CE was significantly correlated with CETP activity, even after controlling for CETP concentration, in type 1 diabetic children.

Higher LDL oxidation at rest and after a rugby game in weekend warriors.

Background/aim: Weekend warriors (WW), people who only exercise vigorously once a week, are a fast-growing population. The present study investigates LDL oxidation and activities of antioxidant enzymes in WW (n = 6) at rest and after a rugby game. The results are compared with those of sedentary controls (CON, n = 10) and trained rugby players (TR, n = 15).

Humic acid induces apoptosis in human endothelial cells.

Humic acid (HA) has been implicated as an etiologic factor in the vasculopathy of Blackfoot disease. In this study, the ability of HA to induce apoptosis was studied in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Treatment of endothelial cells with a variety of concentrations of HA (50-200 microg/ml) resulted in dose- and time-dependent sequences of events marked by apoptosis as shown by loss of cell viability, chromatin condensation, and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation.

The effects of humic acid-arsenate complexes on human red blood cells.

Humic acid (HA) has been proposed as factor in the cause of Blackfoot disease (BFD) among individuals who live along the southwest coast of Taiwan. In this study, the interaction of the synthetic humic acid, made from catechol, with sodium arsenate (As(V)) was investigated and assessed with respect to damage to human red blood cells. HA is characterized as phenolic and phenolic carboxylic polymer structures containing both -COOH and -OH as their main functional groups.

Translation and equivalence: the Profile of Mood States Short Form in English and Chinese.

As international research collaborations increase, health care professionals are becoming more aware of the advantages of using common measures to compare outcomes of assessments across cultures. Measuring mood states across diverse cultures is important for understanding the universal aspects of mood and measuring outcomes of nursing interventions. The purpose of this article is to describe the process used to translate the Profile of Mood States Short Form from English to Chinese and to assess the equivalence of this instrument in the two languages.

Protection of oxidative damage by aqueous extract from Antrodia camphorata mycelia in normal human erythrocytes.

Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata) is well known in Taiwan as a traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract from A.

The surface characteristics of activated carbon as affected by ozone and alkaline treatment.

The surface chemical characteristics of activated carbon treated by ozone and alkaline are determined in terms of surface functional groups and surface acidity. Surface functional groups are analyzed by the IR spectroscopic method and Boehm's titration technique. The surface acidity of activated carbon is determined by electrophoretic mobility measurements.

Detection of serum antibodies to three different recombinant antigens of human herpesvirus 8 by immunoblotting: seroprevalence studies in Taiwan.

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a gamma-herpesvirus, is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). A variety of assays for the diagnosis HHV-8 infection have been developed. However, the accuracy of current HHV-8 antibody testing is uncertain, mainly in patients with asymptomatic HHV-8 infection.

Humic acid induces the generation of nitric oxide in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: stimulation of nitric oxide synthase during cell injury.

Humic acid (HA) has been implicated as an etiological factor in the peripheral vasculopathy of blackfoot disease (BFD). In this study, we examined the effects of HA upon the generation of nitric oxide (NO) during the process of lethal cell injury in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). NO production was measured by the formation of nitrite (NO(2)(-)), the stable end-metabolite of NO.

Facilitators and barriers to elders' practice of t'ai chi. A mind-body, low-intensity exercise.

Research has documented the positive effects that t'ai chi has on the well-being of elders. However, the reasons that elders practice t'ai chi have not been explored. The purpose of this study was to describe the facilitators and barriers to t'ai chi practice in elderly populations.

The adsorption of benzene and methylethylketone onto activated carbon: thermodynamic aspects.

The adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), exemplified by benzene and methylethylketone (MEK), onto seven different types of activated carbon was investigated. Results show that for benzene adsorption the adsorption characteristic energy, enthalpy, free energy and entropy are in the range 17.12-36.

Differential effects of garlic oil and its three major organosulfur components on the hepatic detoxification system in rats.

The objective of this study was to compare the modulatory effect of garlic oil and its three organosulfur compounds, diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), on rat hepatic detoxification enzyme activity, and protein and mRNA expression. Rats were orally administered garlic oil (80 or 200 mg/kg bw), DAS (20 or 80 mg/kg bw), DADS (80 mg/kg bw), or DATS (70 mg/kg bw) three times a week for 6 weeks. Control rats received corn oil.

Residue characteristics and pore development of petrochemical industry sludge pyrolysis.

Petrochemical industry bio-sludge was pyrolyzed to investigate the composition and pore size distribution of pyrolytic residue. Results indicated that the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen concentrations could be reduced after an increase in pyrolytic temperature. The trace element analysis indicated that Al, Ca, Fe, Mg.

Perceived stress and physio-psycho-social status of nursing students during their initial period of clinical practice: the effect of coping behaviors.

Initial clinical practice is stressful. Nursing students entering clinical practice for the first time in a five-year associate degree program in Taiwan are young and have questionable coping skills, all of which can affect their own health. This study examined the following: (1) the degree of stress perceived and types of stressful events; (2) the physio-psycho-social status of nursing students during the practice; (3) the coping behaviors of these students; and (4) the effect of different coping behaviors on their physio-psycho-social health.

Formation of protoberberine-type alkaloids by the tubers of somatic embryo-derived plants of Corydalis yanhusuo.

The effects of 0.5 - 5 mg/l abscisic acid [ABA], 0.5 - 10 mg/l (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol [paclobutrazol] and 0.

Synthesis and methyltransferase activity of nonstructural protein nsP1 in Sindbis virus-infected Aedes albopictus cells.

To investigate the synthesis and turnover of the nonstructure protein, nsP1, in Aedes albopictus cells, we labeled infected cells with [35S]-methionine and immunoprecipitated nsP1 with a polyclonal monospecific rabbit antibody. Synthesis of nsP1 in mosquito cells could be detected 2 hr after infection and continued as long as 24 hr post-infection, regardless whether the infected cells were maintained at 28 degrees C , 34.5 degrees C , or 37 degrees C.

[Uncertainty and anxiety in patients with initial attack of myocardial infarction: the effect of coping methods].

Myocardial infarction is a life threatening disease. Patients, especially those with a first time attack, experience a great deal of uncertainty and emotional disturbance which depend on the effectiveness of coping methods. Four questions were addressed in this study: (1) the degree and sources of uncertainty, (2) the coping methods used, (3) the degree of anxiety, (4) the relationship among uncertainty, coping methods and anxiety, and (5) the effect of coping methods on the relationship between uncertainty and coping methods.

Bullatacin, a potent antitumor annonaceous acetogenin, inhibits proliferation of human hepatocarcinoma cell line 2.2.15 by apoptosis induction.

Bullatacin, isolated from the fruit of Annona atemoya, is one of the most potentially effective antitumor annonaceous acetogenins. Bullatacin was studied here for its ability to inhibit the proliferation of 2.2.

Removal of metal ions and humic acid from water by iron-coated filter media.

Iron oxide is an excellent, regenerable adsorbent, and often controls free metals through adsorption reaction. The utilization of heating process for coating iron oxide on sand surface allowed the media to be used in a packed column. Iron-coated sand was investigated for adsorbing metal ions and natural organic matter from water by batch and column experiments.

Clinical use of tai chi in elderly populations.

Tai chi, a type of low-intensity exercise, has received growing attention in both eastern and western cultures, especially its use with the most rapidly increasing segment of the population-elders. Previous research findings further supported the idea that tai chi is appropriate for elderly populations and helps promote their well-being. In this article, the beneficial effects of tai chi for elders are summarized, resources to increase awareness about the exercise are provided, and ways to promote tai chi in elderly populations are suggested.