bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia scale (EdFED): cross‐cultural validation of the simplified Chinese version in mainland China
Authors: Liu Wen , Watson Roger , Lou Feng‐lan
Published: February 2013

Aims and objectives.  To translate the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia scale (EdFED) into simplified Chinese and to comprehensively evaluate its reliability and validity.

Background.  The EdFED, the only validated instrument at present for assessing feeding difficulty in older people with dementia, is available in the original English and traditional Chinese versions, but not available in simplified Chinese. The traditional Chinese version may not be applicable in Mainland China because of linguistic and cultural differences.

Design.  Survey.

Methods.  The scale was translated into simplified Chinese by the cross‐culture translation method, and 102 participants with dementia were assessed. Data were collected by comprehensive methods and analysed by correlation, Mokken scaling and exploratory factor analysis.

Results.  Reliability and validity were demonstrated for the scale, and a strong and reliable Mokken scale was formed by six items. A three‐factor structure was illustrated by exploratory factor analysis, and construct validity was further demonstrated by good convergent and discriminant validity.

Conclusions.  The simplified Chinese version shows good reliability and validity and can be applicable to measure feeding difficulty in people with dementia in Mainland China and other Chinese cultural groups. More work is required on Mokken scaling, and a confirmatory factor analysis is needed to confirm the three‐factor structure.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The validation of Ch‐EdFED has provided a validated instrument for measuring feeding difficulty in people with dementia in Chinese culture; thus, early recognition of feeding difficulty in older people with dementia can be achieved and proper interventions could be designed. Moreover, with the availability of the three different validated versions of the EdFED, research into cross‐cultural comparisons could be conducted.
The Development, Application and Implications of an EU Rule of Law in the Area of Migration Policy*
Authors: Acosta Arcarazo Diego , Geddes Andrew
Published: February 2013

This article examines the implications of extension of competence to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in the area of immigration policy. Through analysis of the implications for Italy, France and the Netherlands of CJEU decisions on expulsion and family reunification it is shown that an EU rule of law has developed that can constrain the executive branch of Member State governments. This means that the EU can no longer be conceptualized in the area of immigration policy as merely an external venue to which Member States ‘escape’ in order to circumvent legal constraints at national level. The growing role of the CJEU forces instead a reconceptualization of the dynamics of immigration law and policy in Europe.
Predictors of Dropout from Psychosocial Treatment in Opioid‐Dependent Outpatients
Authors: McHugh R. Kathryn , Murray Heather W. , Hearon Bridget A. , Pratt Elizabeth M. , Pollack Mark H. , Safren Steven A. , Otto Michael W.
Published: February 2013

Background and Objectives

Early dropout is common in substance abuse treatment settings and may lead to poorer outcomes relative to those completing a full course of treatment. Attempts to identify predictors of dropout have yielded mixed results, highlighting the need for additional research in this area to clarify risk and protective factors to guide intervention and retention efforts. This study evaluated predictors of dropout from psychosocial treatment among opioid‐dependent patients on methadone maintenance therapy.

Methods

Participants included 78 patients who had failed to respond to at least 4 months of methadone maintenance plus group counseling with clinic substance abuse counselors, and were enrolled in a study of randomized psychosocial treatment in addition to treatment‐as‐usual. Several factors that have been implicated in previous studies as well as two affective variables (distress intolerance and coping motives for drug use) were examined.

Results

Results indicated that when controlling for various risk factors, age was the only significant predictor of dropout, with younger patients more likely to discontinue treatment early.

Conclusions

This study replicates previous findings in opioid‐dependent samples that younger patients are at an increased risk of early treatment dropout.

Conclusions and Significance

Targeted intervention may be needed to retain young patients in drug abuse treatment. (Am J Addict 2013;22:18‐22)
A Retrospective Assessment of the Use of Naltrexone Implants for the Treatment of Problematic Amphetamine Use
Authors: Kelty Erin , Thomson Karen , Carlstein Sarah , Sinclair Rebecca , Hulse Gary
Published: February 2013

Background

At present there is no registered effective pharmacotherapy for the treatment of problematic amphetamine use.

Objectives

This study aims to examine self‐reported abstinence from amphetamines following treatment with a sustained release naltrexone preparation in patients with self and clinically identified problems with amphetamine use and the relationship between naltrexone blood levels and abstinence from amphetamines.

Methods

Forty‐four patients with problematic amphetamine use, who were treated with a naltrexone implant, completed an interview evaluating self‐reported reduction in amphetamine use following treatment. Additional data were collected from the patients' clinical treatment files.

Results

Of the 44 subjects, 29 (65.9%) interviewed reported that following treatment they ceased using and maintained abstinence from amphetamines for at least 1 month. Of these patients, 14 (48.3%) were reportedly still abstinent at 6 months. Rates of abstinence were found to be 2.27 times higher (95% CI 1.38–3.74) in patients when blood naltrexone levels were above 2 ng/ml, with rates as high as 100% and 90.9% for ≥5 and ≥2 ng/ml, respectively, compared with 42.9% for 1–2 ng/ml and 38.9% low less than 1 ng/ml.

Conclusions

Although this study has several limitations, the findings provide preliminary data in support of the use of implant naltrexone for the treatment of problematic amphetamine use and suggest that naltrexone levels above 2 ng/ml should be targeted for use in patients.

Scientific Significance

Data supports the use of implant naltrexone, as a treatment for problematic amphetamine use, for which there is currently no registered pharmacotherapy. However, further research is required. (Am J Addict 2013;22:1‐6)
Gender Differences in Prevalence of Substance Use Disorders among Individuals with Lifetime Exposure to Substances: Results from a Large Representative Sample
Authors: Lev‐Ran Shaul , Le Strat Yann , Imtiaz Sameer , Rehm Jürgen , Le Foll Bernard
Published: February 2013

Background and Objectives

Research regarding substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) shows significant gender differences in prevalence of substance use and dependence. Though lifetime exposure to substances is higher among males, previous reports have not regarded gender differences in prevalence of SUDs among individuals formerly exposed to substances. In addition, though substance abuse is particularly important when exploring gender differences, previous reports have largely focused on rates of transition to substance dependence alone. In this study, we explored gender differences in prevalence of SUDs among individuals with lifetime exposure to substances using a single diagnostic category (abuse or dependence).

Methods

We analyzed 11 different categories of substances: heroin, cocaine, cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, hallucinogens, inhalants, sedatives, tranquilizers, opioids, and amphetamines. Data were derived from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (Wave 1, n = 43,093). The impact of gender on prevalence of SUDs among individuals with lifetime exposure to substances was assessed with odds ratios (ORs) using logistic regressions and adjusted for socio‐demographic factors.

Results

Our results show that among individuals with lifetime exposure to substances, males had a significantly higher prevalence of alcohol (OR = 2.95), sedatives (OR = 2.00), cannabis (OR = 1.93), tranquilizers (OR = 1.64), opioids (OR = 1.54), hallucinogens (OR = 1.31), and cocaine (OR = 1.26) use disorders compared with females.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Using a single broad diagnostic category highlights gender differences in the prevalence of SUDs among individuals with former exposure to substances. Specifically, the significant gender differences found for alcohol, sedatives, and cannabis use disorders may be important for tailoring preventive measures targeted at reducing rates of SUDs among males using these substances. (Am J Addict 2012;XX:000–000) (Am J Addict 2013;22:7‐13)
Who Goes to Treatment? Predictors of Treatment Initiation among Gambling Help‐Line Callers
Authors: Ledgerwood David M. , Arfken Cynthia L. , Wiedemann Ashley , Bates Kendrich E. , Holmes Donald , Jones LaNeice
Published: February 2013

Background and Objectives

Although the consequences of problem gambling can be severe, few ever seek treatment for this disorder. Problem gambling help‐lines represent a crucial point of entry into the treatment system. Through brief telephone counseling, help‐lines have the potential of enhancing callers' motivations to engage in longer‐term treatment. We prospectively examined treatment initiation and its predictors among individuals calling a state help‐line.

Methods

Participants (n = 143) were assessed shortly after their initial call and re‐contacted at least two months later.

Results

Overall 67% of the re‐contacted help‐line callers had attended at least one treatment session at the time of the follow‐up interview (92.7% formal treatment and 28.1% peer‐support meetings). Multivariate analysis revealed that gambling‐related financial difficulties and past treatment for problem gambling (but not for mental health or substance abuse) predicted treatment initiation.

Conclusions and Significance

Enhanced counseling focusing on motivational factors may result in better treatment engagement for some problem gamblers. (Am J Addict 2013;22:33‐38)
Impulsivity and Substance Use in Young Adulthood
Authors: Shin Sunny Hyucksun , Chung Yeonseung , Jeon Sae‐Mi
Published: February 2013

Background and Objectives

Although the significant role of impulsive personality on substance use has been widely documented, distinct aspects of impulsivity and their relation to substance use during young adulthood have received scant attention. We sought to fill this research gap and explored impulsivity subtraits in relation to hazardous drinking and illicit substance use in young adulthood.

Methods

The present study used cross‐sectional survey data collected from a community sample of 257 young adults aged 18–25 (53% female). Data were primarily analyzed by three different types of regression models.

Results

We found impulsivity to be more strongly associated with illicit substance use than hazardous drinking during young adulthood. Among the four impulsivity subtraits examined, lack of premeditation (p < .01) and sensation seeking (p < .05) were significantly related to illicit substance use in young adulthood.

Conclusions and Significance

These findings suggest that each impulsivity subtrait might play different roles in illicit substance use during young adulthood. For young adults, assessment of differential patterns of impulsive personality in individuals with substance use problems may have important implication for treatment strategies. (Am J Addict 2013;22:39‐45)
Major Depression and PTSD in Pregnant Smokers Enrolled in Nicotine Gum Treatment Trial
Authors: Dornelas Ellen , Oncken Cheryl , Greene John , Sankey Heather Z. , Kranzler Henry R.
Published: February 2013

Background and Objectives

Pregnant women face considerable barriers to smoking cessation. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and response to smoking cessation treatment in pregnant smokers participating in a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of nicotine gum.

Methods

Participants were 194 low‐income, ethnically diverse pregnant smokers.

Results

Utilizing a structured interview, 45% and 18% of the subjects met criteria for a lifetime diagnosis of MDD and PTSD, respectively. There was no difference in response to treatment, based on the presence of either of these psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

Cumulatively, these findings provide evidence of the high degree of unmet mental health needs in pregnant smokers.

Scientific Significance

Pregnant women with a history of MDD and PTSD appear to be as likely to benefit from smoking cessation treatment as those without such a history. (Am J Addict 2013;22:54‐59)
Retracted: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification combined with colorimetric nanogold for detection of the microsporidianEnterocytozoon hepatopenaeiin penaeid shrimp
Authors: Suebsing R. , Prombun P. , Srisala J. , Kiatpathomchai W.
Published: February 2013

Aims

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei is an emerging microsporidian parasite that has been linked to recent losses caused by white faeces syndrome (WFS) in cultivated giant or black tiger shrimp Penaeus (Penaeus) monodon and whiteleg shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei in Asia. To more accurately assess its impact on shrimp production and to determine reservoir carriers for control measures, our objective was to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay combined with colorimetric nanogold (AuNP) for rapid, sensitive and inexpensive detection of this parasite.

Methods and Results

A set of six specific primers was designed to successfully detect the SSU rRNA gene of E. hepatopenaei by a LAMP reaction of 45 min at 65°C combined with visual detection of the amplification product via hybridization at 65°C for 5 min with a ssDNA-labelled nanogold probe, followed by salt-induced AuNP aggregation (total assay time, approximately 50 min). This method gave similar results to LAMP followed by electrophoresis or spectrophotometric detection, and it was more sensitive (0·02 fg total DNA) than a conventional nested PCR (0·2 fg total DNA). The new method gave negative results with shrimp DNA templates extracted from diseased shrimp containing other pathogens, indicating that the LAMP-AuNP assay was specific for E. hepatopenaei.

Conclusions

Without sacrificing sensitivity or specificity, the new LAMP-AuNP assay significantly reduced the time, ease and cost for molecular detection of E. hepatopenaei in shrimp.

Significance and Impact of the study

The new method employs simple, inexpensive equipment and involves simple steps making it applicable for small field laboratories. Wider application of the method to screen broodstock before use in a hatchery, to screen postlarvae before stocking shrimp ponds, to test for natural carriers and to monitor shrimp in rearing ponds would help to assess and reduce the negative impact of this parasite in shrimp farming.
Nursing stress and patient care: real‐time investigation of the effect of nursing tasks and demands on psychological stress, physiological stress, and job performance: study protocol
Authors: Farquharson Barbara , Bell Cheryl , Johnston Derek , Jones Martyn , Schofield Pat , Allan Julia , Ricketts Ian , Morrison Kenny , Johnston Marie
Published: February 2013

Aim

To examine the effects of nursing tasks (including their physiological and psychological demands, and the moderating effects of reward and control) on distress and job performance in real time.

Background

Nurses working in hospital settings report high levels of occupational stress. Stress in nurses has been linked to reduced physical and psychological health, reduced job satisfaction, increased sickness absence, increased staff turnover, and poorer job performance. In this study, we will investigate theoretical models of stress and use multiple methods, including real‐time data collection, to assess the relationship between stress and different nursing tasks in general medical and surgical ward nurses.

Design

A real‐time, repeated measures design.

Methods

During 2011/2012, 100 nurses from a large general teaching hospital in Scotland will: (a) complete self‐reports of mood; (b) have their heart rate and activity monitored over two shifts to obtain physiological indices of stress and energy expenditure; (c) provide perceptions of the determinants of stress in complex ward environments; and (d) describe their main activities. All measures will be taken repeatedly in real time over two working shifts.

Discussion

Data obtained in this study will be analysed to examine the relationships between nursing tasks, self‐reported and physiological measures of stress and to assess the effect of occupational stress on multiple work outcomes. The results will inform theoretical understanding of nurse stress and its determinants and suggest possible targets for intervention to reduce stress and associated harmful consequences.
PI3K inhibition potentiates Bcl‐2‐dependent apoptosis in renal carcinoma cells
Authors: Zhu Shudong , Cohen Matthew B. , Bjorge Jeffrey D. , Mier James W. , Cho Daniel C.
Published: February 2013

Inhibitors of PI3‐K/Akt are currently being assessed clinically in patients with advanced RCC. Identification of therapeutic strategies that might enhance the efficacy of PI3‐K/Akt inhibitors is therefore of great interest. As PI3‐K inhibition would be expected to have many pro‐apoptotic effects, we hypothesized that there may be unique synergy between PI3‐K inhibitors and BH3‐mimetics. Towards this end, we assessed the combination of the PI3K inhibitor LY 294002 and the Bcl‐2 family inhibitor ABT‐737 in RCC cell lines. We found that the combinatorial treatment with these agents led to a significant increase in PARP cleavage and cell death in all RCC cell lines. The synergized cell death was correlated with decreased levels of Mcl‐1 and XIAP, and increased levels in Bim, and appears critically dependent upon the activation of caspase 3 and 8. The enhanced lethality observed with the combination also appears dependent upon the regulation of XIAP, Mcl‐1 and Bim levels. Our results suggest that the combination of PI3‐K inhibitors with BH3‐mimetics may be a viable therapeutic strategy in RCC.
Altered functional differentiation of mesoangioblasts in a genetic myopathy
Authors: Altomare Claudia , Barile Lucio , Rocchetti Marcella , Sala Luca , Crippa Stefania , Sampaolesi Maurilio , Zaza Antonio
Published: February 2013

Mutations underlying genetic cardiomyopathies might affect differentiation commitment of resident progenitor cells. Cardiac mesoangioblasts (cMabs) are multipotent progenitor cells resident in the myocardium. A switch from cardiac to skeletal muscle differentiation has been recently described in cMabs from β‐sarcoglycan‐null mice (βSG−/−), a murine model of genetic myopathy with early myocardial involvement. Although complementation with βSG gene was inconsequential, knock‐in of miRNA669a (missing in βSG−/− cMabs) partially rescued the mutation‐induced molecular phenotype. Here, we undertook a detailed evaluation of functional differentiation of βSG−/− cMabs and tested the effects of miRNA669a‐induced rescue in vitro. To this end, cMabs were compared with neonatal cardiomyocytes (CMs) and skeletal muscle C2C12 cells, representative of cardiac and skeletal muscle respectively. Consistent with previous data on molecular patterns, electrophysiological and Ca2+‐handling properties of βSG−/− cMabs were closer to C2C12 cells than to CM ones. Nevertheless, subtler aspects, including action potential contour, Ca2+‐spark properties and RyR isoform expression, distinguished βSG−/− cMabs from C2C12 cells. Contrary to previous reports, wild‐type cMabs failed to show functional differentiation towards either cell type. Knock‐in of miRNA669a in βSG−/− cMabs rescued the wild‐type functional phenotype, i.e. it completely prevented development of skeletal muscle functional responses. We conclude that miRNA669a expression, ablated by βSG deletion, may prevent functional differentiation of cMabs towards the skeletal muscle phenotype.
The Changing Position of the European Parliament on Irregular Migration and Asylum under Co‐decision
Authors: Lopatin Esther
Published: February 2013

This article demonstrates that the European Parliament has increasingly voted with the Council for a more restrictive position on irregular migration and asylum since obtaining co‐decision authority in these areas in 2005, in contrast to its previous liberal position. Roll‐call votes in the fifth and sixth European Parliaments (1999–2009) in the field of irregular migration and asylum were analyzed, and it was found that an abrupt change in voting behaviour of many MEPs, particularly those members belonging to two of its main liberal‐leaning parties, the S&D and ELDR, is evidently linked to the change of authority of the EP. Apparently, there is an inverse correlation between the level of decision‐making authority and the freedom to vote for a liberal immigration and asylum policy. The author suggests several explanations for this behaviour, including the need for MEPs to be flexible in working with the Council in order to pass legislation.
Contribution of meat to vitamin B12, iron and zinc intakes in five ethnic groups in the USA: implications for developing food‐based dietary guidelines
Authors: Sharma S. , Sheehy T. , Kolonel L. N.
Published: February 2013

Background

To describe the sources of meat and their contributions to vitamin B12, iron and zinc in five ethnic groups in the USA.

Methods

Dietary data for the Multiethnic Cohort, established in Hawaii and Los Angeles, were collected using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire from more than 215 000 subjects, aged 45–75 years at baseline (1993–1996). Participants included African American, Latino, Japanese American, Native Hawaiian and Caucasian men and women. Servings of meat items were calculated based on the US Department of Agriculture recommendations and their contributions to intakes of total meat, red meat, vitamin B12, iron and zinc were determined.

Results

Of all types of meat, poultry contributed the most to meat consumption, followed by red meat and fish among all ethnicities, except for Latino (born in Mexico and Central/South America) men who consumed more beef. Lean beef was the most commonly consumed red meat for all ethnic‐sex groups (9.3–14.3%), except for Native Hawaiian and Japanese American men, and Japanese American women whose top contributor was stew/curry with beef/lamb and stir‐fried beef/pork with vegetables, respectively. The contribution of meat was most substantial for zinc (11.1–29.3%) and vitamin B12 (19.7–40%) and, to a lesser extent, for iron (4.3–14.2%).

Conclusions

This is the first large multiethnic cohort study to describe meat sources and their contributions to selected nutrients among ethnic minorities in the USA. These findings may be used to develop ethnic‐specific recommendations for meat consumption aiming to improve dietary quality among these groups.
Qualitative exploration of nurses' decisions to activate rapid response teams
Authors: S Astroth Kim , M Woith Wendy , Stapleton Stephen J , Degitz R Joseph , Jenkins Sheryl H
Published: February 2013

Aims and objectives

To identify barriers and facilitators to nurses' decisions regarding activation of rapid response teams (RRTs) in hospitals.

Background

Hospitalised patients in the United States who experience cardiopulmonary arrest seldom recover. Most of these patients show signs of clinical deterioration prior to cardiopulmonary arrest. RRTs have been shown to decrease the incidence of cardiopulmonary arrest by bringing needed resources to unstable patients. Despite the evidence in support of the activation of RRTs, nurses do not always use this resource. Nurses' decisions to activate or not to activate the RRT are not clearly understood.

Design

We used a qualitative design for this study.

Methods

A purposive sample of 15 medical/surgical nurses was recruited from a small medical centre in the Midwest. Researchers used semistructured, open‐ended questions to elicit subject responses regarding facilitators and barriers to activating RRTs.

Results

Themes emerged and were categorised as facilitators and barriers to calling the RRT. Facilitators and barriers were then subdivided into distinct subthemes: RRT characteristics and unit culture. The expertise of the RRT members and support and encouragement from nursing unit colleagues and leaders emerged as two potential facilitators. Communication of the RRT members and calling the physician first emerged as two potential barriers. We also identified educational factors that were not clearly facilitators or barriers to calling the RRT.

Conclusions

Further study is needed using quantitative designs with larger sample sizes.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses can build upon knowledge of facilitators and barriers related to RRT characteristics and nursing unit culture.
Finding meaning despite anxiety over life and death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
Authors: Ozanne Anneli O , Graneheim Ulla H , Strang Susann
Published: February 2013

Aim and objectives

To illuminate how people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) create meaning despite the disease.

Background

Coping strategies for living with ALS have already been investigated. However, there is a lack of studies on how people with the disease find meaning and what helps and hinders this.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study.

Methods

Fourteen individual interviews were performed in Spring 2007. The interviews were analysed by qualitative content analysis.

Results

Two themes emerged to illuminate the complex life situation of the interviewees: experiences of anxiety over life and death and finding meaning despite the illness. It became clear that the uncertain journey towards death was more frightened than death itself. Despite the incurable disease, which brought feelings of life and death anxiety, physical loss, unfairness, guilt, shame and existential loneliness, they also found meaning in life, which strengthened their will to live. Meaning was found through their family and friends, the act of giving and receiving help, the feeling of having a life of their own and accepting the present. The perspective of life was transferred to a deeper view where material things and quarrels were no longer in focus.

Conclusions

Despite the disease, the participants found meaning in life which strengthened their will to live.

Relevance to clinical practice

The balance between anxiety over life and death and finding meaning in life indicates the importance of support through the whole disease process. Both disease‐specific problems and existential questions must be tackled. Nurses and other professionals need to be aware of the patients' existential qualms. There is a need to focus on what is important for the individual, and emphasis must be placed on where that person can find meaning.
Complexity of management and health outcomes in a prospective cohort study of 573 heart failure patients in Australia: does more equal less?
Authors: Driscoll Andrea , Tonkin Andrew , Stewart Andrew , Worrall‐Carter Linda , Thompson David R , Riegel Barbara , Hare David L , Davidson Patricia M , Mulvany Christine , Stewart Simon
Published: February 2013

Aims and objectives

To compare the efficacy of chronic heart failure management programmes (CHF‐MPs) according to a scoring algorithm used to quantify the level of applied interventions–the Heart Failure Intervention Score (HF‐IS).

Background

The overall efficacy of heart failure programmes has been proven in several meta‐analyses. However, the debate continues as to which components are essential in a heart failure programme to improve patient outcomes.

Design

Prospective cohort study of patients participating in heart failure programmes.

Method

Forty‐eight of 62 (77%) programmes in Australia participating in a national register of CHF‐MPs were evaluated using the HF‐IS: derived from a summed and weighted score of each intervention applied by the CHF‐MP (27 interventions overall). The CHF‐MPs were prospectively categorised as relatively low (HF‐IS < 190 – n = 39 programmes & 407 patients) or high (HF‐IS ≥ 190 – n = 9 programmes & 166 patients) in complexity. Six‐month morbidity and mortality rates in 573 consecutively recruited patients with systolic dysfunction and in New York Heart Association Class II–IV were prospectively examined.

Results

Patients exposed to CHF‐MPs with a high HF‐IS had a lower rate of unplanned, all‐cause hospitalisation (n = 24, 14% vs. n = 102, 25%) compared with CHF‐MPs with a low HF‐IS within six months. On an adjusted basis, CHF‐MPs with a high HF‐IS were associated with a reduced risk of unplanned hospitalisation and/or death within six months and remained event‐free longer.

Conclusion

High complexity CHF‐MPs applying more evidence‐based interventions are associated with a higher event‐free survival over six months.

Relevance to clinical practice

The HF‐IS is an easy‐to‐use evidence‐based tool to assist programme coordinators to improve the quality of their heart failure programme which may also improve patient outcomes.
Clinical observation and nursing care on the prevention of abdominal organ cluster transplantation rejection
Authors: Zhang Hongxia , Chen Lifen , Gu Guangxiang , Guo Zhiyong , Gong Fengqiu , Wu Shuwen , Zhang Xiaoyuan , He Xiaoshun
Published: February 2013

Aims and objectives

To investigate the clinical characteristics of rejection after upper abdominal cluster transplantation.

Background

Abdominal organ cluster transplantation is used to treat multiple abdominal organ diseases. Delay in monitoring and treatment can lead to graft failure.

Design

A descriptive study.

Methods

Data collected from eight patients who underwent abdominal organ cluster transplantation from May 2004–March 2009 in our hospital were retrospectively assessed. The clinical manifestations of graft rejection and variations in characteristics associated with graft function were analysed.

Results

In all eight cases, graft function recovered successfully without rejection during the perioperative period. In one case, liver graft rejection occurred 1·5 months postoperatively, but dose adjustment of the anti‐rejection drugs provided symptom relief.

Conclusions

Rejection can be prevented and cured successfully through monitoring and early detection of rejection characteristics by the nursing staff.

Relevance to clinical practice

With the increase of awareness and knowledge on the clinical observation and nursing care, the rate of transplantation rejection decreased among abdominal cluster transplant patients.
Reverse Survivorship Bias
Authors: LINNAINMAA JUHANI T.
Published: February 2013

Mutual funds often disappear following poor performance. When this poor performance is partly attributable to negative idiosyncratic shocks, funds' estimated alphas understate their true alphas. This paper estimates a structural model to correct for this bias. Although most funds still have negative alphas, they are not nearly as low as those suggested by the fund‐by‐fund regressions. Approximately 12% of funds have net four‐factor model alphas greater than 2% per year. All studies that run fund‐by‐fund regressions to draw inferences about the prevalence of skill among mutual fund managers are subject to reverse survivorship bias.
ON OPTIMAL INVESTMENT FOR A BEHAVIORAL INVESTOR IN MULTIPERIOD INCOMPLETE MARKET MODELS
Authors: Carassus Laurence , Rásonyi Miklós
Published: February 2013

We study the optimal investment problem for a behavioral investor in an incomplete discrete‐time multiperiod financial market model. For the first time in the literature, we provide easily verifiable and interpretable conditions for well‐posedness. Under two different sets of assumptions, we also establish the existence of optimal strategies.
PRICING SWAPTIONS UNDER MULTIFACTOR GAUSSIAN HJM MODELS
Authors: Nunes João Pedro Vidal , Prazeres Pedro Miguel Silva
Published: February 2013

Several approximations have been proposed in the literature for the pricing of European‐style swaptions under multifactor term structure models. However, none of them provides an estimate for the inherent approximation error. Until now, only the Edgeworth expansion technique of Collin‐Dufresne and Goldstein is able to characterize the order of the approximation error. Under a multifactor HJM Gaussian framework, this paper proposes a new approximation for European‐style swaptions, which is able to set bounds on the magnitude of the approximation error and is based on the conditioning approach initiated by Curran and Rogers and Shi. All the proposed pricing bounds will arise as a simple by‐product of the Nielsen and Sandmann setup, and will be shown to provide a better accuracy–efficiency trade‐off than all the approximations already proposed in the literature.
ARBITRAGE BOUNDS FOR PRICES OF WEIGHTED VARIANCE SWAPS
Authors: Davis Mark , Obłój Jan , Raval Vimal
Published: February 2013

We develop a theory of robust pricing and hedging of a weighted variance swap given market prices for a finite number of co‐maturing put options. We assume the put option prices do not admit arbitrage and deduce no‐arbitrage bounds on the weighted variance swap along with super‐ and sub‐replicating strategies that enforce them. We find that market quotes for variance swaps are surprisingly close to the model‐free lower bounds we determine. We solve the problem by transforming it into an analogous question for a European option with a convex payoff. The lower bound becomes a problem in semi‐infinite linear programming which we solve in detail. The upper bound is explicit. We work in a model‐independent and probability‐free setup. In particular, we use and extend Föllmer's pathwise stochastic calculus. Appropriate notions of arbitrage and admissibility are introduced. This allows us to establish the usual hedging relation between the variance swap and the “log contract” and similar connections for weighted variance swaps. Our results take the form of a FTAP: we show that the absence of (weak) arbitrage is equivalent to the existence of a classical model which reproduces the observed prices via risk‐neutral expectations of discounted payoffs.
RISK METRICS AND FINE TUNING OF HIGH‐FREQUENCY  TRADING STRATEGIES
Authors: Cartea Álvaro , Jaimungal Sebastian
Published: February 2013

We propose risk metrics to assess the performance of high‐frequency (HF) trading strategies that seek to maximize profits from making the realized spread where the holding period is extremely short (fractions of a second, seconds, or at most minutes). The HF trader maximizes expected terminal wealth and is constrained by both capital and the amount of inventory that she can hold at any time. The risk metrics enable the HF trader to fine tune her strategies by trading off different metrics of inventory risk, which also proxy for capital risk, against expected profits. The dynamics of the midprice of the asset are driven by information flows which are impounded in the midprice by market participants who update their quotes in the limit order book. Furthermore, the midprice also exhibits stochastic jumps as a consequence of the arrival of market orders that have an impact on prices which can give rise to market momentum (expected prices to trend up or down). The HF trader's optimal strategy incorporates a buffer to cover adverse selection costs and manages inventories to maximize the expected gains from market momentum.
Real Wicksell Effect, Demand for Capital and Stability
Authors: Fratini Saverio M.
Published: February 2013

The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between reverse capital deepening and instability of the equilibrium between investments and savings. It is shown for a model with n commodities, infinitely many linear technique of production, and overlapping generations that a badly behaved real Wicksell effect, as in the case of a ‘reswitching of techniques’, can involve instability.
Overexpression of RbfA in the absence of the KsgA checkpoint results in impaired translation initiation
Authors: Connolly Keith , Culver Gloria
Published: February 2013

KsgA, a universally conserved small ribosomal subunit (SSU) rRNA methyltransferase, has recently been shown to facilitate a checkpoint within the ribosome maturation pathway. Under standard growth conditions removal of the KsgA checkpoint has a subtle impact on cell growth; yet, upon overexpresssion of RbfA, a ribosome maturation factor, KsgA becomes essential. Our results demonstrate the requirement of KsgA, in the presence of excess RbfA, both for the incorporation of ribosomal protein S21 to the developing SSU, and for final maturation of SSU rRNA. Also, when SSU biogenesis is perturbed by an imbalance in KsgA and RbfA, a population of 70S‐like particles accumulates that is compositionally, functionally and structurally distinct from mature 70S ribosomes. Thus, our work suggests that KsgA and RbfA function together and are required for SSU maturation, and that additional checkpoints likely act to modulate malfunctional 70S particle formation in vivo.
Colocalization and interaction between elongasome and divisome during a preparative cell division phase in Escherichia coli
Authors: van der Ploeg René , Verheul Jolanda , Vischer Norbert O. E. , Alexeeva Svetlana , Hoogendoorn Eelco , Postma Marten , Banzhaf Manuel , Vollmer Waldemar , den Blaauwen Tanneke
Published: February 2013

The rod‐shaped bacterium Escherichia coli grows by insertion of peptidoglycan into the lateral wall during cell elongation and synthesis of new poles during cell division. The monofunctional transpeptidases PBP2 and PBP3 are part of specialized protein complexes called elongasome and divisome, respectively, which catalyse peptidoglycan extension and maturation. Endogenous immunolabelled PBP2 localized in the cylindrical part of the cell as well as transiently at midcell. Using the novel image analysis tool Coli‐Inspector to analyse protein localization as function of the bacterial cell age, we compared PBP2 localization with that of other E. coli cell elongation and division proteins including PBP3. Interestingly, the midcell localization of the two transpeptidases overlaps in time during the early period of divisome maturation. Försters Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments revealed an interaction between PBP2 and PBP3 when both are present at midcell. A decrease in the midcell diameter is visible after 40% of the division cycle indicating that the onset of new cell pole synthesis starts much earlier than previously identified by visual inspection. The data support a new model of the division cycle in which the elongasome and divisome interact to prepare for cell division.
The challenges of implementing behaviour changes that lead to sustained weight management
Authors: Stubbs R. J. , Lavin J. H.
Published: February 2013

Weight loss is a difficult journey often characterised by repeated faltering attempts. There are numerous approaches to weight management but they all involve changes in self‐management, eating or activity behaviour. Weight loss induces changes in physiological and emotional systems, which tend to pull people back to where they came from. At the present time, it is not clear how the rate, extent or type of weight loss impact on signalling systems that oppose weight loss. Dietary changes in behaviour appear to be more achievable for weight loss earlier in the weight loss journey, while physical activity becomes a critical adjunct to initial dietary changes for weight loss maintenance. A range of weight control behaviours characterises weight loss and weight loss maintenance. People successfully maintaining significant weight loss tend to control their appetite, do more physical activity and remain vigilant, to catch slips in behaviour that may lead to weight regain.

There may be differing clusters of behaviours, which characterise weight loss compared with weight loss maintenance, and there appear to be different clusters of behaviours that characterise weight loss maintainers. To navigate from the journey of weight loss to one of habitual weight loss maintenance requires long‐term self‐management. Environments and programmes that support, nurture and facilitate long‐term behaviour change give people the capability, the opportunity and the motivation to navigate to a healthy weight.
Farm to School as a strategy to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption in the United States: Research and recommendations
Authors: Taylor J. C. , Johnson R. K.
Published: February 2013

The majority of children in the United States (US) do not consume the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables for their age and gender. Farm to School (FTS) has been promoted as a strategy to increase consumption of these foods among US schoolchildren in primary and secondary schools (ages 5–19). FTS programmes connect schools to farmers and locally grown foods through a variety of activities that provide nutrition education and exposure to fruits and vegetables. This paper reviews the literature assessing the impact of these programmes on fruit and vegetable consumption among children in the US and makes recommendations for future research to improve knowledge of the efficacy of such approaches.

While FTS programmes are becoming increasingly popular in the US, there is a paucity of peer‐reviewed research assessing its overall impact on children's actual consumption of fruits and vegetables. Instead, the majority of literature on FTS has focused on school lunch participation rates and self‐reported intake or selection of fruits and vegetables in programme evaluations that are usually self‐conducted by individual FTS programmes. These studies tended to use surveys that have not been validated against actual fruit and vegetable consumption and so are not necessarily representative of actual consumption. To a lesser extent, validated self‐report dietary assessment methods have been used but these methods are subject to children's misreporting. Based on the types of methods used in most of the current literature on FTS, it is difficult to draw conclusions about its true impact on children's fruit and vegetable consumption. However, continued implementation of FTS is encouraged based on the positive outcomes observed in other school interventions with similarities to FTS. Future studies assessing the impact of FTS on children's dietary behaviour should adopt validated dietary assessment methods to measure fruit and vegetable consumption, especially those that require observation of children's actual intake in order to eliminate errors from children's self‐report.
Behaviour change initiatives to promote a healthy diet and physical activity in European countries
Authors: Weichselbaum E. , Hooper B. , Buttriss J. , Theobald C. , Sgarabottolo V. , Combris P. , Strigler F. , Oberritter H. , Cullen M. , Valero T. , Ruiz E. , del Pozo S. , Ávila J. M. , Varela‐Moreiras G. , Jost E. , Stowell J. , Mutus B. , Besler H. T.
Published: February 2013

The health benefits of physical activity and a healthy diet are well known, yet large proportions of modern societies do not meet recommended guidelines for these behaviours. Intervention programmes aimed at changing activity and eating behaviours, ranging from individual‐level approaches to community‐wide campaigns in effects on physical activity, diet and weight loss (Norman et al. ). A first step in healthy behaviour promotion aimed at behaviour change is to identify the health problems of a population that are serious and/or prevalent enough to justify spending time, money and other resources (Brug et al. ). Many behaviour change interventions aim to tackle obesity, the prevalence of which is still rising in many European countries, which is positively associated with chronic diseases affecting the health and wellbeing of Western populations. But other common risk factors for chronic disease, such as high intakes of salt or saturated fatty acids, are also the targets of health intervention programmes in a number of European countries.

This paper provides examples of intervention programmes, conducted by government and other organisations, from eight European countries that aim to change behaviour in relation to diet and physical activity. It summarises the outcomes of a workshop held during a meeting of the European Nutrition Foundations (ENF) Network in London, UK, on 25 June 2012.
Association of obstructive sleep apnoea with the presence and severity of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Musso G. , Cassader M. , Olivetti C. , Rosina F. , Carbone G. , Gambino R.
Published: February 2013

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are common in clinical practice. NAFLD encompasses simple steatosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): both confer an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes; NASH increases also liver‐related risk. Growing experimental evidence connects chronic intermittent hypoxia of OSAS to NAFLD. We reviewed English and non‐English articles and international meeting abstracts through December 2012. Observational studies were included if they assessed OSAS by polysomnography and NAFLD by histological, radiological or biochemical criteria. Two reviewers evaluated retrieved articles by appropriate quality scores. Main outcomes were pooled using random‐ or fixed‐effects models. The effect of age, sex and body mass index (BMI) on effect estimates was assessed by meta‐regression. Eighteen cross‐sectional studies (2,183 participants) were included. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) of OSAS for the presence of NAFLD, as defined by histology, radiology, and AST or ALT elevation, were 2.01(95% CI: 1.36–2.97), 2.99(1.79–4.99), 2.36(1.46–3.82) and 2.60(1.88–3.61), respectively. Pooled ORs of OSAS for NASH, fibrosis‐any stage, or advanced fibrosis in biopsy‐proven NAFLD patients were 2.37(1.59–3.51), 2.16(1.45–3.20) and 2.30(1.21–4.38). The magnitude and direction of effects were unaffected by age, sex and BMI. In conclusion, OSAS is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD, NASH and fibrosis. OSAS patients should be screened for the presence and severity of NAFLD.
Use of asynchrony in flowering for easy and economical polyhaploid induction in wheat following Imperata cylindrica‐mediated chromosome elimination approach
Authors: Chaudhary Harinder K. , Tayeng Tisu , Kaila Vineeta , Rather Shoukat A.
Published: February 2013

Wheat × Imperata cylindrica‐mediated approach of doubled haploidy breeding requires hand emasculation followed by pollination with I. cylindrica pollen. The pace of this endeavour can be enhanced by utilizing asynchronous flowering of wheat spikes by direct pollination without emasculation followed by morphological marker–assisted screening of selfed and crossed seeds. The emasculated and un‐emasculated spikes of 13 spring and six winter wheat genotypes and two triticale × wheat derivatives were pollinated with I. cylindrica pollen. The response of different genotypes for production of crossed and selfed seeds with direct pollination varied significantly within and between groups for spring and winter wheats, whereas triticale × wheat derivatives responded similarly to each other but significantly different from spring and winter wheats. Although, the proportion of pseudoseed formation was lower in case of direct pollination, yet in some genotypes, it was comparable to that of pollination after emasculation. Moreover, the response for haploid embryo induction frequency was similar in both the cases. The method of direct pollination can be utilized for easy and economical induction of haploids.