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© 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This article advances nursing research by presenting the methodological challenges experienced in conducting a multination Q-methodology study. This article critically analyzes the relevance of the methodology for cross-cultural and nursing research and the challenges that led to specific responses by the investigators. The use of focus groups with key stakeholders supplemented the Q-analysis results. The authors discuss practical issues and shared innovative approaches and provide best-practice suggestions on the use of this flexible methodology. Q methodology has the versatility to explore complexities of contemporary nursing practice and cross-cultural health research.

© 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This article advances nursing research by presenting the methodological challenges experienced in conducting a multination Q-methodology study. This article critically analyzes the relevance of the methodology for cross-cultural and nursing research and the challenges that led to specific responses by the investigators. The use of focus groups with key stakeholders supplemented the Q-analysis results. The authors discuss practical issues and shared innovative approaches and provide best-practice suggestions on the use of this flexible methodology. Q methodology has the versatility to explore complexities of contemporary nursing practice and cross-cultural health research.

We demonstrate controlled growth of vertical organic crystal nanowires on single layer graphene. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXD), we probe the microstructure and morphology of dibenzotetrathienocoronene (DBTTC) nanowires epitaxially grown on graphene. The investigation is performed at both the ensemble and single nanowire level, and as a function of growth parameters, providing insight of and control over the formation mechanism. The size, density and height of the nanowires can be tuned via growth conditions, opening new avenues for tailoring three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructured architectures for organic electronics with improved functional performance.

We demonstrate controlled growth of vertical organic crystal nanowires on single layer graphene. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXD), we probe the microstructure and morphology of dibenzotetrathienocoronene (DBTTC) nanowires epitaxially grown on graphene. The investigation is performed at both the ensemble and single nanowire level, and as a function of growth parameters, providing insight of and control over the formation mechanism. The size, density and height of the nanowires can be tuned via growth conditions, opening new avenues for tailoring three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructured architectures for organic electronics with improved functional performance.

This study reports on the effect of high-frequency magnetic field on the heating of electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibers decorated with Fe 2O3 nanoparticles (NPs). The morphological and thermal properties were checked by several characterization techniques. Here, the effect of Fe2O3 NP concentration and intensity of magnetic field on the inductive heating of the composite mat were investigated. Fe 2O3 nanoparticles were confirmed to be embedded on/in the nanofibers and their presence has increased the thermal stability of the composite nanofibers compared to the neat PU nanofibers. The composite nanofibers under high-frequency magnetic field showed a temperature increase of 3-17% with respect to the neat PU nanofibers depending on the Fe 2O3 NP concentration and magnetic field strength. The present results suggest the potential use of electrospun nanofibers as good substrate for magnetic nanoparticles, and when exposed to external magnetic field, can induce heating that may be useful for localized hyperthermia application. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.

This study reports on the effect of high-frequency magnetic field on the heating of electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibers decorated with Fe 2O3 nanoparticles (NPs). The morphological and thermal properties were checked by several characterization techniques. Here, the effect of Fe2O3 NP concentration and intensity of magnetic field on the inductive heating of the composite mat were investigated. Fe 2O3 nanoparticles were confirmed to be embedded on/in the nanofibers and their presence has increased the thermal stability of the composite nanofibers compared to the neat PU nanofibers. The composite nanofibers under high-frequency magnetic field showed a temperature increase of 3-17% with respect to the neat PU nanofibers depending on the Fe 2O3 NP concentration and magnetic field strength. The present results suggest the potential use of electrospun nanofibers as good substrate for magnetic nanoparticles, and when exposed to external magnetic field, can induce heating that may be useful for localized hyperthermia application. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.

In this study, we describe the enhancing ability of electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanofillers for silicone film in improving the physico-mechanical properties of the composite material. We prepared the samples combining two simple techniques: solution casting and electrospinning. Neat PU nanofibers alone are good reinforcing materials but the presence of CNTs inside the PU nanofibers has drastically improved the mechanical properties of the silicone composite film. The silicone film increased its tensile strength by 226% and its tensile modulus by more than 14-fold when CNT/PU nanofibers were incorporated. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In this paper, we report the effect of the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) on the photocatalytic properties of a tourmaline NP/nylon-6 composite mat prepared by one-step electrospinning process. Several characterization techniques were utilized to check the successful incorporation of NPs in/on the nanofibers. Both TiO2 and tourmaline NPs were confirmed to be incorporated on the surface of the nylon-6 nanofibers or fully embedded in the fibers through SEM and TEM observations. The fiber diameter showed increasing size trend in the order of nylon-6

In this study, we describe the enhancing ability of electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nanofillers for silicone film in improving the physico-mechanical properties of the composite material. We prepared the samples combining two simple techniques: solution casting and electrospinning. Neat PU nanofibers alone are good reinforcing materials but the presence of CNTs inside the PU nanofibers has drastically improved the mechanical properties of the silicone composite film. The silicone film increased its tensile strength by 226% and its tensile modulus by more than 14-fold when CNT/PU nanofibers were incorporated. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In this paper, we report the effect of the incorporation of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) on the photocatalytic properties of a tourmaline NP/nylon-6 composite mat prepared by one-step electrospinning process. Several characterization techniques were utilized to check the successful incorporation of NPs in/on the nanofibers. Both TiO2 and tourmaline NPs were confirmed to be incorporated on the surface of the nylon-6 nanofibers or fully embedded in the fibers through SEM and TEM observations. The fiber diameter showed increasing size trend in the order of nylon-6

The prevalence of hypertension in African Americans (AAs) is higher than in other US groups; yet, few have performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in AA. Among people of European descent, GWASs have identified genetic variants at 13 loci that are associated with blood pressure. It is unknown if these variants confer susceptibility in people of African ancestry. Here, we examined genome-wide and candidate gene associations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) using the Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe) consortium consisting of 8591 AAs. Genotypes included genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data utilizing the Affymetrix 6.0 array with imputation to 2.5 million HapMap SNPs and candidate gene SNP data utilizing a 50K cardiovascular gene-centric array (ITMAT-Broad-CARe [IBC] array). For Affymetrix data, the strongest signal for DBP was rs10474346 (P= 3.6 × 10(-8)) located near GPR98 and ARRDC3. For SBP, the strongest signal was rs2258119 in C21orf91 (P= 4.7 × 10(-8)). The top IBC association for SBP was rs2012318 (P= 6.4 × 10(-6)) near SLC25A42 and for DBP was rs2523586 (P= 1.3 × 10(-6)) near HLA-B. None of the top variants replicated in additional AA (n = 11 882) or European-American (n = 69 899) cohorts. We replicated previously reported European-American blood pressure SNPs in our AA samples (SH2B3, P= 0.009; TBX3-TBX5, P= 0.03; and CSK-ULK3, P= 0.0004). These genetic loci represent the best evidence of genetic influences on SBP and DBP in AAs to date. More broadly, this work supports that notion that blood pressure among AAs is a trait with genetic underpinnings but also with significant complexity.