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OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a brief educational intervention administered two weeks after Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) implantation on subsequent levels of anxiety, depression, stress and hostility. DESIGN: A randomised controlled design was used. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Twenty-two patients hospitalised for implantation of an AICD were recruited for the study. Thirteen patients were randomised to attend the intervention and nine to the standard care control group. INTERVENTION: The educational intervention was delivered by a nurse and psychologist. It comprised one 60-90 minute session in which the patient and a significant other received detailed information about the AICD (including practical and psychological aspects), and had the opportunity to ask questions, express concerns and receive reassurance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The DASS was used to measure anxiety, depression and stress at two, four and six months after AICD insertion. RESULTS: Patients who attended the intervention showed no significant improvements or trend toward improvement on any of the measured psychological domains. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that a single educational session delivered to recent AICD recipients is not sufficient to improve patients' psychological adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The view that psychological factors play a role in the onset and progression of cancer has been promoted widely in the popular media. The present study assessed the prevalence of this view. The respondents -527 members of the public, 239 cancer patients, and 117 medical practitioners working in oncology-completed a survey questionnaire consisting of three questions in a yes/no format on whether they believed psychological factors can affect the cause, progression, and cure of cancer. Each question was followed by a Likert-scale question asking respondents to estimate the strength of such an effect. The majority of respondents in the public sample endorsed the proposition that psychological factors affect cause (60%), progression (71%), and cure (72%). A larger proportion of patients endorsed the proposition for progression (85%) and cure (86%). Oncologists were less likely to endorse it for cause (12%) and cure (26%). These relationships also held for estimates of the strength of the effect. In the public sample, females and respondents with a university education provided higher estimates of the effects of psychological factors on cancer. These differences were not evident in the patient sample. Given that the scientific evidence to support the 'mind-cancer' view is equivocal, the question of whether these perceptions should be challenged needs to be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer support groups have become increasingly available to patients over the last two decades. Although the various patient groups differ in their philosophy, membership, and aims, the majority can be categorized as predominantly 'supportive' or 'psychoeducational' in their approach. To date, there is little evidence regarding the relative benefits of the two types of group in improving patients' psychological outcomes. This article presents a critical review of the evidence for the relative efficacy of the two approaches. A search of the literature using CD-ROM databases identified 15 studies of acceptable design that quantitatively evaluated psychological outcomes of one or both types of group intervention. Although some findings have been inconsistent, the majority of evidence suggests that patients who attend psychoeducational groups experience greater benefits than do those who attend purely supportive groups. Further well-designed research in this area is needed to identify specific patient cohorts that are most likely to benefit from each approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miniature piezoelectric polymer hydrophones for ultrasonic field characterization in the low megahertz region have been developed and tested. The principal advantages of these devices over conventional hydrophones are their uniform frequency response and minimal perturbation of the field. These characteristics are achieved by rendering a small central region of a thin sheet of the polymer polyvinylidene fluoride locally piezoelectric, and then supporting the sheet in the field by holding it taut in a metal hoop having dimensions larger than the field being probed. Both single elements having diameters less than 1 mm and multielement arrays have been formed on the polymer. Methods of construction, signal amplification, and, in one design, rf shielding are discussed, and data are presented on insertion loss, sensitivity, frequency response, and immunity to rf interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an improvement in the method of setting vibration amplitudes for calibrating vibration pickups by the disappearance of an interferometric fringe pattern. In the usual method, one plate of an interferometer is stationary, the other vibrates with the pickup, and the fringe pattern disappears at zeros of the Bessel function J0[(4πξ)/λ], where ξ is the amplitude of vibration and λ is the wavelength of light used. In the improved method, the fringes are observed by a photomultiplier, the previously stationary plate is vibrated at a modulating frequency much lower than the calibrating frequency applied to the pickup, and the signal from the photomultiplier, filtered at the modulating frequency, has minima at the zeros of J0[(4πξ/λ]. Observation of the nulls on a meter allows faster calibration with greater precision and less observer fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axial resonances of long rods and tubes were used to generate motion for accurate calibration of vibration pickups over the frequency range from below 1 to above 20 kc at acceleration levels up to 12 000g. The resonators were driven by an electromagnetic shaker at low frequencies and by a piezoelectric ceramic stack shaker at high frequencies. Vibration amplitude was measured optically by means of a microscope using stroboscopic light and by means of the interference fringe disappearance technique. Adequate overlap between the two methods was achieved by going up to the 60th disappearance of the fringes. A simple, direct measurement of the phase angle between the pickup signal and the motion is described. Construction details of a small, light pickup which is unaffected by the high acceleration levels are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photometric device for accurately measuring the amplitudes of sinusoidal vibrations is described. The device is designed for calibrating vibration pickups. The apparatus employs a Fizeau-type interferometer with a photomultiplier observing the fringe pattern. The method is applied to the measurement of vibrations throughout the audio and near ultrasonic frequency range with amplitudes ranging from 72 to 4400 A. Extension to amplitudes as low as 5 A can be made with some modification to the apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes measurement of vibration amplitude with a Fizeau type interferometer using pulses of monochromatic light of adjustable phase. The interferometer is used to calibrate vibration pickups over the frequency range from 100 to 20 000 cps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved poling techniques have led to improvement in the piezoelectric activity of bulk polymers. Results now achieved approach the activity of conventional piezoelectric materials such as quartz, and further improvement is anticipated. The measured value of the piezoelectric strain modulus d31 of a length expander bar of polyvinylchloride was 0.6×10-12 m V-1 and the electromechanical coupling factor k31 was 0.6%. The response of a sample as an underwater sound receiver was -112 dB re 1 V/μbar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a piezoelectric shaker consisting of a combination of damped resonant cylindrical elements. Material characteristics and design parameters are chosen so that the resonances of the combined elements overlap to provide 'good' motion over a wide frequency range. Data from three shakers are presented to show how a suitable set of shakers can be used for the calibration of vibration pickups at frequencies up to 100 kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a vibration transfer standard designed to provide comparison calibrations of pickups with minimum degradation. Features of the design are the use of a ceramic housing of a stiff, light, lossy material; provision of a means for evaluating the quality of the motion by the use of three integral accelerometers oriented parallel to the nominal direction of motion; and design of the geometry to minimize differences in motion between the pickup being calibrated and the standard. The useful frequency range is 10-10 000 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]