University of Macau / Faculty of Health Sciences

Photocatalysis has received increasing attention in recent years as an effective technology in wastewater treatment applications. In this project, bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6), which is a popular visible-light-driven photocatalyst, was prepared by solvothermal and hydrothermal methods. The synthesis conditions, including thermal reaction temperature, synthesis duration, and precursor stirring time of the solvothermal method were optimized based on the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the CeO2/Bi2MoO6 composites with different CeO2 loading content were successfully prepared by the wet impregnation route and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and diffuse-reflection spectroscopy (DRS). The photodecomposition of RhB aqueous solution under visible light irradiation indicated that composites showed enhancements in degradation activity and 20 wt% CeO2/Bi2MoO6 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity which was 24.13% and 83.33% higher than those of Bi2MoO6 and CeO2, respectively. This enhancement could be attributed to the formation of heterojunctions that effectively suppressed the recombination of holes and electrons. Quenching experiments revealed that photo-induced holes and superoxide radicals (O2•-) were the main active species during the degradation process. Reusability was assessed by a set of 5 cycling degradation experiments and the results indicated that the composite could be applied long-term. Moreover, the effect of some operating parameters including temperature, initial pH, catalyst dosage and initial substrate concentration were investigated.

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Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The aim of this project was to measure changes in dimension of the first three primary rugae and to evaluate tooth movement in the maxilla during orthodontic treatment in patients treated with and without premolar extractions. / South Africa

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Pathological gambling is a treatable, but complex addiction. Defined as out of control gambling that disrupts relationships, employment and/or education. People from all social, economic and cultural groups are affected. Pathological gambling is a problem throughout this country, and in Oregon 61,000 people are estimated to have this disorder. There is a lack of information and extensive misinformation about gambling; and gambling has, historically, been considered a moral weakness. Treatment for pathological gambling is a recent development, and still is not widely available. Pathological gambling is pervasive, poorly understood, and costly and deserves further study. Existing literature on pathological gambling, both the profile of the disorder and treatment is thoroughly reviewed. The portrait of the pathological gambler is contradictory. The only clear demographic trend is that the majority of pathological gamblers are men. Psychodynamic theories explain pathological gambling through developmental and psychological determinants. Behaviorists and learning theorists delineate a series of environmental and physiological factors which combine to "teach" pathological gambling behavior. Researchers who study pathological gambling have enumerated three to four phases of progression of the disorder. There are a variety of disorders and physical problems correlated to pathological gambling, and depression and dual addictions are clearly an issue for many. GA has a high drop out rate and tends to work better for pathological gamblers who have few or no relapses. The intake interview should: initiate the therapeutic alliance, provide crucial data for assessment and diagnosis, and provide information about the nature and scope of the treatment. Individual therapy has a relatively long and respected history as helpful treatment for pathological gambling. Group therapy is a common and effective mode for treatment of pathological gambling. Psychodynamic treatment of is popular and effective, works at achieving abstinence, and helping the pathological gambler make deeper personality changes. Cognitive-behavioral approaches have a role in helping pathological gamblers change irrational beliefs surrounding gambling and themselves. A program which uses cognitive-behavioral, behavioral and psychodynamic approaches in individual, group and family/marital counseling settings designed by author is presented and discussed. The program has four stages and includes an education component.

Among the estimated 210,000 Australians living with the hepatitis C virus, over 80% will go on to live with chronic hepatitis C and its debilitating effects. Patients with chronic hepatitis C who have active inflammatory changes on liver biopsy may undergo combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin. Adverse effects of combination therapy can be variable in their nature, intensity and severity. They may be mild, reversible, moderate, or serious and life threatening. For some patients the adverse effects are so severe that it places enormous stress on partner relationships. Through a phenomenological approach using purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews of five patients and their partners, this study aimed to explore the issues surrounding chronic hepatitis C, combination therapy and personal relationships. The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of the experiences of people living with the illness and undergoing treatment. The complexities that hepatitis C and treatment brings into the personal lives of people have led me to this study because there is a need to understand their impact on the personal relationships of patients and their partners. Through deeper understanding of their experiences, nurses can move beyond the medical oriented approach to treatment towards a holistic approach. The findings from this study revealed that chronic hepatitis C and combination therapy had an enormous impact on the lives of the patients, their partners and families. Both had significant physiological effects that impacted on quality of life, however, the social and psychological consequences of living with a highly stigmatised disease with an unknown course and outcome cannot be underestimated. The participants’ narratives provided a rich description of their experiences and offered insight into the life world of people living with chronic hepatitis C and combination therapy, and their partners. The themes that emerged from the study were: experiencing illness and treatment; keeping a secret; sharing the experience; and enduring struggle. Nurses play a significant role in educating patients with chronic hepatitis C, advocating for them and helping them to achieve a reasonable state of well being. Nurses also have the important role of providing partners with information and support that will assist them as caregivers. The results of this study lend support to the effectiveness of providing equitable services to persons diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. However, additional research is needed to explore gender, socioeconomic, sexual-orientation, transmission, cultural and religious differences within this group to better address their needs. / Master of Nursing (Honours)

Objectives: To improve the management of childhood asthma. Subjects & Setting: Children admitted with asthma from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2000; and children discharged with asthma from Emergency Department (ED) of Sydney Children?s Hospital (SCH) between 16th October 2000 and 28th February 2002. Methods: There were two major studies addressing aspects of asthma management, namely the retrospective in-patient study and the prospective ED presentation study. Each of these was subdivided in two different studies to address different research questions. In the first retrospective study, a priori criteria for theoretical &quottime ready for discharge&quot (TRD) for asthmatic admissions were defined based on frequency of use of salbutamol. In the second retrospective study, we followed 361 children for 1 year from the date of their discharge, to find out whether those who received asthma education, written asthma action plan, and preventer medications at the time of discharge and whose follow?up was arranged prior to discharge, represented to the ED or were readmitted. The prospective study, which also addressed two different research questions, was a randomised-controlled trial in which parents of 310 children who had been discharged from ED with asthma, received written asthma materials only or received telephone consultation in addition to written materials. Background severity and control of asthma were assessed in baseline study from parent?s reported symptom frequency and medication uses. Outcome measures: readmission and representation to the ED, regular use of preventer medications, possession and use of written asthma action plan, and asthma symptom measures. Results: (1) 116 (27.7%) children were discharged before our theoretical TRD and only 2 child who were discharged after achieving TRD, developed symptoms which required oxygenation and more frequent doses of salbutamol. Both readmission and representation to ED within one week of discharge were uncommon. (2) 121 children represented within 1 year of their discharge, of whom 68 children were readmitted. Both receiving asthma education during admission and arranging follow-up prior to discharge were associated with a decreased likelihood of representation as well as readmission (P &gt 0.001). (3) In RCT, the baseline study showed that 14% of children were not receiving appropriate preventer therapy despite indications; and a further 34% had frequent symptoms despite receiving preventer therapy. 62% of the parents reported of having written asthma action plan but less than 50% of them reported using it regularly. At follow up we observed both possession and use of written asthma action plan (p = 0.002) as well as regular use of preventer medications (p = 0.001) were improved in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Discharge on 3-hourly rather than 4-hourly doses of salbutamol appears safe and shortens length of stay by an average of 5.5 hrs. Both asthma education and follow-up at the time discharge appear to reduce readmission and representation to ED. Telephone consultation can increase the regular use of preventer medications and written asthma action plan.