BackgroundThe incidence of cervical cancer is up to sixfold higher among First Nation women in Canada than in the general population. This is probably due to lower participation rates in cervical cancer prevention programmes.ObjectiveTo raise screening participation in this underserved population by launching an alternative approach to (Pap)anicolaou testing in a clinic—namely, vaginal self-sampling followed by human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnostics.MethodsGood relationships were established with a First Nation community of the Northern Superior region in Northwest Ontario, and then 49 community women, aged 25–59, were recruited, who provided a vaginal self-sample and answered a questionnaire. Frequency distributions and cross-tabulations were used to summarise the data. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the χ2 test of association, or the Goodman–Kruskal γ if both variables had ordered categories. Self-collected samples were tested for integrity and HPV using optimised molecular biological methods.ResultsThe majority of participants (87.2%) were amenable to future HPV screening by self-sampling. This finding was independent of age, educational level and a previous history of abnormal Pap tests. Interestingly, the preferred way to learn about sexual health remained through interaction with healthcare professionals. As defined by the presence of a housekeeping gene, self-sample integrity was high (96%). Using polymerase chain reaction-based Luminex typing, the overall HPV positivity was 28.6% (ie, with either a low- or high-risk type) and 16.3% were infected with a high-risk type such as HPV16.ConclusionIn this pilot study of First Nation women, self-sampling and HPV testing was well received and self-sample quality was excellent. A larger survey to be conducted in other Northern Superior communities in Northwest Ontario will determine whether this approach could become a viable screening strategy for First Nation women.

This study investigated disturbances in body image perception with anorexic, obese and control groups (N = 24). Each group was comprised of 8 female subjects matched for age. An original silhouette chart and chi squares were employed, and a significant difference was found among the groups in the perception of the present‐self body image (χ2 (8) = 24.19, p < .01), body image at plus 10 pounds (χ2 (6) = 27.63, p < .01), and body image at minus 10 pounds (χ2 (8) = 26.05, p < .01). No differences among the groups appeared in perceived ideal‐self body image or in their perception of the body image that was expected from their families. A directional trend was noted in anorexic overestimation and obese underestimation on the total concept of body image. Significant differences among the groups as judged via a semantic differential technique were found for personality descriptions of happy/sad, active/passive, popular/unpopular, effective/ineffective, competent/incompetent, smart/stupid, and cold/warm.

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An interactive computer program, the Body Image Testing System (BITS), was developed to assess different components of the body image construct. The BITS program displays a frontal and side v&w of a human body. Subjects can change the size of each of nine body parts independently (face, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, breasts, stomach, hips, and thighs

Iron phosphide with high specific capacity has emerged as an appealing candidate for next-generation lithium-ion battery anodes. However, iron phosphide could undergo conversion reactions and generally suffer from a rapid capacity degradation upon cycling due to its structure pulverization. Chemomechanical breakdown of iron phosphide due to its rigidity has been a challenge to fully realizing its electrochemical performance. To address this challenge, we report here on an enticing opportunity: a flexible, free-standing iron phosphide anode with Fe2P nanoparticles confined in carbon nanofibers may overcome existing challenges. For the synthesis, we introduce a facile electrospinning strategy that enables in situ formation of Fe2P within a carbon matrix. Such a carbon matrix can effectively minimize the structure change of Fe2P particles and protect them from pulverization, allowing the electrodes to retain a free-standing structure after long-term cycling. The produced electrodes showed excellent electrochemical performance in lithium-ion half and full cells, as well as in flexible pouch cells. These results demonstrate the successful development of iron phosphide materials toward high capacity, light weight, and flexible energy storage.