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The study aimed to (a) assess current levels of adherence to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s multiple health behavior guidelines and (b) identify characteristics of cancer survivors associated with different adherence levels. Cancer survivors (N = 661) were identified through the state registry and completed questionnaires. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify patterns of adherence. Associations between predictors with the latent classes were reported as risk ratios. LCA identified three classes: lower- (39.6%), moderate- (52.0%), and high-risk lifestyle (8.3%). Participants in the lower-risk lifestyle class had the highest probability of meeting most of the multiple health behavior guidelines compared to participants in the high-risk lifestyle class. Characteristics associated with membership in the moderate-risk lifestyle class included self-identifying as a race other than Asian/Asian American, being never married, having some college education, and having been diagnosed with later stage colorectal or lung cancer. Those in the high-risk lifestyle class were more likely to be male, never married, have a high school diploma or less, diagnosed with colorectal or lung cancer, and diagnosed with pulmonary comorbidities. Study findings can be used to inform development of future interventions to promote multiple health behavior adherence among higher risk cancer survivors.

The influence of interphase on the tensile property of composite is examined in the present study. For this, fabrication of composite (FOC) is carried out using natural fibers: bamboo fiber and jute fiber and polyester resin as per the hand layup technique. The fibers are arranged in a longitudinal direction with varying the volume fraction of fiber (vf). The tensile testing of fibers, polyester and composites are held on the universal testing machine (UTM) and evaluated experimental tensile properties: tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (E). The mathematical models are proposed to measure the influence of interphase on the longitudinal elastic modulus of composite (Ecl) for longitudinally placed unidirectional fiber-reinforced polymer composites (LUDFPC) with varying interphase volume fraction (vi). The different interphase property variations: linear variation, hyperbolic variation, parabolic variation, powerlaw variation and exponential are considered in the modeling of composite and measure its effect on Ecl. The comparative study of proposed models with other researchers’ models is carried out. The validation of developed models is carried out using other researchers’ experimental data. The present study signifies the important outcome as vi should be around 15 % to 20 % of vf to predict Ecl; Parabolic variation is recommended for the prediction of Ecl.

Fibers are the main load-carrying member in composites. Hence, it is required to examine the behavior of fiber against different strain rate (SR). In present study, the behavior of natural fiber (NF) and Natural fiber yarn (NFY) is investigated by varying the SR at lower SR: 0.17 × 10−4 s−1 to 1.25 × 10−4 s−1 (crosshead speed (CHS): 0.1 to 0.75 mm/min) and higher SR: 1.25 × 10−4 s−1 to 25.00 × 10−4 s−1 (CHS: 0.75 to 20 mm/min) and measure its effect on tensile strength (TS). Here, the range is proposed for SR of lower SR and higher SR. NF: hemp fiber, sisal fiber and banana fiber and NFY: flax fiber yarn, bamboo fiber yarn and cotton fiber yarn are procured for the tensile testing. The mathematical models: exponential model (EM), linear model (LM), logarithmic model (LOM), polynomial model (PM) and power model (POM) are also proposed to predict the TS at different SR. The paper signifies the outcome as: TS increases gradually at lower SR and decreases gradually at higher SR; PM is advised to use in the prediction of TS at lower SR and higher SR for NF and NFY.

In the present study, the experimental investigations are carried out to find the tensile strength (TS) and flexural strength (FS) of unidirectional composites (UDC). For these, fabrication of composite (FOC) is carried out using hand layup technique by selecting fibers: bamboo fiber, cotton fiber and viscose rayon fiber as a reinforcement and polyester resin as a matrix. The weight fraction of fiber (wf) is varied in the range of 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35% during FOC. Tensile testing and flexural testing of composites are carried out using the universal testing machine (UTM) to measure TS and FS. Tensile testing and flexural testing of composites are carried out as per the ASTM D3039/3039M-08 as per the ASTM D790-10 respectively. The FEA simulation is also carried out for the prediction of TS using ANSYS 15.0. The comparison of experimental results with simulation results is carried out to check the deviation of simulation results with experimental results. The paper signifies outcomes as the TS of the UDC rises with increase in wf; the FS of the UDC rises with increase in wf; the simulation results are good in consistence with experimental results.

BACKGROUND Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) incorporates treatments used by cancer survivors in an attempt to improve their quality of life. Although population studies have identified factors associated with its use, to the best of the authors knowledge, assessment of why patients use CAM or the barriers against its use have not been examined to date. METHODS The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey study in the thoracic, breast, and gastrointestinal medical oncology clinics at an academic cancer center. Clinical and demographic variables were collected by self-report and chart abstraction. Attitudes and beliefs were measured using the validated Attitudes and Beliefs about CAM (ABCAM) instrument. This instrument divides attitudes and beliefs into 3 domains: expected benefits, perceived barriers, and subjective norms. RESULTS Among 969 participants (response rate, 82.7%) surveyed between June 2010 and September 2011, patient age ≤65 years, female sex, and college education were associated with a significantly greater expected benefit from CAM (P

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) incorporates treatments used by cancer survivors in an attempt to improve their quality of life. Although population studies have identified factors associated with its use, to the best of the authors knowledge, assessment of why patients use CAM or the barriers against its use have not been examined to date.The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey study in the thoracic, breast, and gastrointestinal medical oncology clinics at an academic cancer center. Clinical and demographic variables were collected by self-report and chart abstraction. Attitudes and beliefs were measured using the validated Attitudes and Beliefs about CAM (ABCAM) instrument. This instrument divides attitudes and beliefs into 3 domains: expected benefits, perceived barriers, and subjective norms.Among 969 participants (response rate, 82.7%) surveyed between June 2010 and September 2011, patient age ≤65 years, female sex, and college education were associated with a significantly greater expected benefit from CAM (P.0001 for all). Nonwhite patients reported more perceived barriers to CAM use compared with white patients (P.0001), but had a similar degree of expected benefit (P = .76). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, all domains of the ABCAM instrument were found to be significantly associated with CAM use (P.01 for all) among patients with cancer. Attitudes and beliefs regarding CAM explained much more variance in CAM use than clinical and demographic variables alone.Attitudes and beliefs varied by key clinical and demographic characteristics, and predicted CAM use. By developing CAM programs based upon attitudes and beliefs, barriers among underserved patient populations may be removed and more patient centered care may be provided.

There is paucity of convincing scientific evidence to support practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in pediatric cancer patients even though their use is well documented. However, certain CAM therapies have been proven effective for symptoms that conventional therapies fail to treat, such as nausea, pain, and psychosocial well-being. Rigorous research methods in pediatric oncology need to be followed to build the evidence base in CAM and bridge these effectiveness gaps. A strategy that combines qualitative and quantitative studies to assess CAM therapies in the context they are being used in, with awareness of the unique challenges in pediatric oncology research, will guide future clinical practice. Finally, national and international collaborations among researchers, policy makers, and clinicians will facilitate the regulated use of effective CAM therapies in pediatric oncology.