Attentional contrast during sequential judgements: A source of the number-of-levels effect

As the number of intervening attribute levels increases, the derived importance weight of an attribute increases. In three studies, we show that attentional processes contribute to this number-of-levels effect. When there is inequality in the number of attribute levels across attributes, any given profile will include levels of one attribute that are relatively more novel than levels of the accompanying attributes. A process of attentional contrast directs attention toward the relatively novel attribute levels within each profile. Increased attention to the relatively novel attribute levels results in a larger derived importance weight for the attributes defined on those levels

The HBP1 tumor suppressor is a negative epigenetic regulator of MYCN driven neuroblastoma through interaction with the PRC2 complex

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Field Validity and Feasibility of Four Techniques for the Detection of Trichuris in Simians: A Model for Monitoring Drug Efficacy in Public Health?

Worldwide, millions of people are infected with soil-transmitted helminths, particularly in developing countries. Efforts to control these infections involve periodic mass drug treatment in endemic areas. Since these large-scale interventions are likely to intensify, monitoring of drug efficacy has become a key issue in order to detect the emergence of resistance. At present, the drop in infection intensity is under examination for monitoring the drug efficacy. However, studies comparing detection techniques based on infection intensities are scarce. Moreover, little attention has been addressed to their feasibility and their ability to estimate drug efficacies. We have compared different techniques for the detection of whipworm (Trichuris) in simian stool samples based on prevalence, infection intensities, feasibility and ability to estimate the ‘true’ drug efficacy. We have found that techniques often fail to detect low infection intensities and that not all techniques are appropriate for estimating infection intensities. The time needed to obtain a test result varied from 3.9 to 17.7 min/sample. Finally, accurate estimates of drug efficacy were only obtained in high pre-drug administration infection intensities. To conclude, along with accurate estimates of infection intensities, feasibility is a considerable criterion for the detection techniques used in drug efficacy monitoring programs

Subsequent Event Risk in Individuals with Established Coronary Heart Disease:Design and Rationale of the GENIUS-CHD Consortium

BACKGROUND: The "GENetIcs of sUbSequent Coronary Heart Disease" (GENIUS-CHD) consortium was established to facilitate discovery and validation of genetic variants and biomarkers for risk of subsequent CHD events, in individuals with established CHD. METHODS: The consortium currently includes 57 studies from 18 countries, recruiting 185,614 participants with either acute coronary syndrome, stable CHD or a mixture of both at baseline. All studies collected biological samples and followed-up study participants prospectively for subsequent events. RESULTS: Enrollment into the individual studies took place between 1985 to present day with duration of follow up ranging from 9 months to 15 years. Within each study, participants with CHD are predominantly of self-reported European descent (38%-100%), mostly male (44%-91%) with mean ages at recruitment ranging from 40 to 75 years. Initial feasibility analyses, using a federated analysis approach, yielded expected associations between age (HR 1.15 95% CI 1.14-1.16) per 5-year increase, male sex (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.13-1.21) and smoking (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.35-1.51) with risk of subsequent CHD death or myocardial infarction, and differing associations with other individual and composite cardiovascular endpoints. CONCLUSIONS: GENIUS-CHD is a global collaboration seeking to elucidate genetic and non-genetic determinants of subsequent event risk in individuals with established CHD, in order to improve residual risk prediction and identify novel drug targets for secondary prevention. Initial analyses demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of a federated analysis approach. The consortium now plans to initiate and test novel hypotheses as well as supporting replication and validation analyses for other investigators

Unconstrained growth along a ternary eutectic solidification path in Al-Cu-Ag: Preparation of a MAXUS sounding rocket experiment

During casting, unconstrained solidification occurs most frequently. The objectives of the present study were to describe the different stages of a ternary eutectic solidification path, its unconstrained solidification and to assess gravity dependent phenomena as a preparation for a MAXUS sounding rocket microgravity experiment. Two alloys within the Al-Cu-Ag system were selected. They form a different primary phase α(Al) or θ-Al2Cu that however share the further solidification path. Nucleation of primary non-faceted α(Al) was enhanced by the addition of TiB2. The same addition did not influence the nucleation of faceted θ-Al2Cu. Gravity driven flotation of primary α(Al) was observed. Nucleation of the univariant eutectic α(Al) + θ-Al2Cu is triggered by θ-Al2Cu, whereas growth occurs with a lamellar, rod-like or irregular morphology. Growth of the invariant eutectic α(Al) + θ-Al2Cu + ξ-Ag2Al occurs either with an irregular, semi-regular brick type or regular double-rod type morphology, however, always with a strong association between θ-Al2Cu and ξ-Ag2Al.status: publishe

Analysis of smoking cessation beliefs in pregnant smokers and ex-smokers using the theory of planned behavior

Aim: To analyze the association between smoking cessation beliefs and smoking status, and between smoking cessations beliefs and intention to quit, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Subjects and methods: An observational study using a questionnaire was performed; data were collected from 264 Flemish pregnant smokers and ex-smokers before week 16 of pregnancy. Results: There was a significant difference in the behavioral beliefs of the TPB between smokers and ex-smokers, after controlling for education and age. All respondents experienced more support from their non-smoking partners to maintain abstinence during pregnancy. We found no significant difference in the behavioral beliefs of the TPB between respondents with low and high intention to quit smoking. Conclusion: Our results suggest that attitude, subjective norms, support especially from the partner, and perceived behavioral control are associated with actual smoking behavior in pregnant women and not with intention to quit smoking. It is important to engage the partner and/or significant others in smoking cessation counselling so that they can support the pregnant woman in an attempt to quit or to maintain abstinence

The Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale: factorial structure, validity and reliability in pregnant smokers

Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives: Smoking during pregnancy can cause several maternal and neonatal health risks, yet a considerable number of pregnant women continue to smoke. The objectives of this study were to test the factorial structure, validity and reliability of the Dutch version of the Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRSS) in a sample of smokingpregnant women and to understand reasons for continued smoking during pregnancy. Methods: A longitudinal design was performed. Data of 97 pregnant smokers were collected during prenatal consultation. Structural equation modelling was performed to assess the construct validity of the MRSS: an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis.Test–retest reliability (<16 weeks and 32–34 weeks pregnancy) and internal consistency were assessed using the intraclass correlation coëfficiënt and the Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. To verify concurrent validity, Mann–Whitney U-tests were performed examining associations between the MRSS subscales and nicotine dependence, daily consumption, depressive symptoms and intention to quit. Results: We found a factorial structure for the MRSS of 11 items within five subscales in order of importance: tension reduction, addiction, pleasure, habit and social function. Results for internal consistency and test–retest reliability were good to acceptable. There were significant associations of nicotine dependence with tension reduction and addiction and of daily consumption with addiction and habit. Conclusions: Validity and reliability of the MRSS were shown in a sample of pregnant smokers. Tension reduction was the most important reason for continued smoking, followed by pleasure and addiction. Although the score for nicotine dependence was low, addiction was an important reason for continued smoking during pregnancy; therefore, nicotine replacement therapy could be considered. Half of the respondents experienced depressive symptoms. Hence, it is important to identify those women who need more specialized care, which can include not only smoking cessation counselling but also treatment for depression.status: publishe