Eating the elephant whole or in slices: views of participants in a smoking cessation intervention trial on multiple behaviour changes as sequential or concurrent tasks

Background: This paper explores smoking cessation participants’ perceptions of attempting weight management alongside smoking cessation within the context of a health improvement intervention implemented in Glasgow, Scotland. <p/>Methods: One hundred and thirty-eight participants were recruited from smoking cessation classes in areas of multiple deprivation in Glasgow and randomised to intervention, receiving dietary advice, or to control groups. The primary outcome of the study was to determine the % change in body weight. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 intervention and 15 control participants at weeks 6 (during the intervention) and 24 (at the end of the intervention). The current paper, though predominantly qualitative, links perceptions of behaviour modification to % weight change and cessation rates at week 24 thereby enabling a better understanding of the mediators influencing multiple behaviour change. <p/>Results: Our findings suggest that participants who perceive separate behaviour changes as part of a broader approach to a healthier lifestyle, and hence attempt behaviour changes concurrently, may be at comparative advantage in positively achieving dual outcomes. <p/>Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to assess participants’ preference for attempting multiple behaviour changes sequentially or simultaneously in addition to assessing their readiness to change. Further testing of this hypothesis is warranted

Milky way halo objects, IC 4499 and the large magellanic cloud

The work described in this thesis is that of the candidate alone, except where otherwise acknowledged in the text. The observations of IC 4499 at the AAT were carried out by my supervisor Dr. Andrew A. Cole but the candidate was responsible for the reduction process and all subsequent analysis. The IC 4499 material in this thesis was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronom- ical Society, volume 411, pages 1536 to 1546, March 2011, with the candidate as first author and with Dr. Cole as co-author contributing part of the discussion. MNRAS hold the copyright for that content, and access to the material should be sought from the journal. The remaining non published content of the thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying and communication in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. The Monte Carlo Markov Chain program to estimate the velocity dispersion and mass in IC 4499 was scripted in R by Dr. Simon Wotherspoon. The candidate substantially adapted the code and methodology to the larger problem of estimation of LMC rotation model parameters. LMC target selection, field plate setup, sky-fibre, and guide star placement were all carried out by the candidate, Dr. Cole travelled to the AAT to assist with the final LMC observations. Reduction and analysis of the LMC data is that of the candidate alone. Dr. Cole performed a calibration check of the LMC metallicity results and Appendix D is entirely his work. Thanks to Dr. Cole for encouragement, discussions and assistance. Observations at the Mount Pleasant radio telescope supporting the JAXA Selene Moon mission resulted in a co-author credit in Radio Science, volume 45, number 2, April 2010. Travel support for observing was provided by the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO). The AAO was funded by the British and Australian governments. Thanks to AAT support astronomer Dr. Rob Sharp and night assistant Winston Campbell for their assistance during the observing run

Numerical simulation of a supercritical inlet flow

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76033/1/AIAA-1985-1214-300.pd

The effect of homocysteine-lowering with B-vitamins on osteoporotic fractures in patients with cerebrovascular disease: substudy of VITATOPS, a randomised placebo-controlled trial

10.1186/1471-2318-13-88BMC Geriatrics131

Patient-Reported Satisfaction and Study Drug Discontinuation: Post-Hoc Analysis of Findings from ROCKET AF.

IntroductionPatient-reported outcomes (PROs) and satisfaction endpoints are increasingly important in clinical trials and may be associated with treatment adherence. In this post hoc substudy from ROCKET AF, we examined whether patient-reported satisfaction was associated with study drug discontinuation.MethodsROCKET AF (n = 14,264) compared rivaroxaban with warfarin for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. We analyzed treatment satisfaction scores: the Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS) and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II (TSQM II). We compared satisfaction with study drug between the two treatment arms, and examined the association between satisfaction and patient-driven study drug discontinuation (stopping study drug due to withdrawal of consent, noncompliance, or loss to follow-up).ResultsA total of 1577 (11%) patients participated in the Patient Satisfaction substudy; 1181 (8.3%) completed both the ACTS and TSQM II 4 weeks after starting study drug. Patients receiving rivaroxaban did not experience significant differences in satisfaction compared with those receiving warfarin. During a median follow-up of 1.6 years, 448 premature study drug discontinuations occurred (213 rivaroxaban group; 235 warfarin group), of which 116 (26%) were patient-driven (52 [24%] rivaroxaban group; 64 [27%] warfarin group). No significant differences were observed between satisfaction level and rates of patient-driven study drug discontinuation.ConclusionsStudy drug satisfaction did not predict rate of study drug discontinuation. No significant difference was observed between satisfaction with warfarin and rivaroxaban, as expected given the double-blind trial design. Although these results are negative, the importance of PRO data will only increase, and these analyses may inform future studies that explore the relationship between drug-satisfaction PROs, adherence, and clinical outcomes. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT00403767.FundingThe ROCKET AF trial was funded by Johnson & Johnson and Bayer

Drag estimation on wedge-shaped protuberances in high-speed flows

A semi-empirical method is developed to estimate drag on wedge-shaped projections in hypersonic flow. Force balance measurements from gun tunnel tests directly measure total drag on blunt wedges, where the boundary layer and the entropy layer are weakly coupled. Detailed flowfield analysis from numerical simulations provides estimated locations of peak pressure ratio and skin friction. Schlieren images are used for detecting incipient separation in incoming flows with laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Test results indicate the presence of local hotspots at reattachment points of strong detached shocks on the wedge compression ramp, and of primary and secondary vortical structures around lateral faces. Total drag is found to decrease with decreasing bluntness but increasing slenderness in wedges tend to increase skin friction drag

Viloxazine, a Non-stimulant Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor, for the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A 3 Year Update.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. Current treatment options for ADHD include pharmacological treatment (stimulants, non-stimulants, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics), psychological treatment (behavioral therapy with or without parent training, cognitive training, neurofeedback), and complementary and alternative therapies (vitamin supplementation, exercise). Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are the primary pharmacological therapy used in treatment; however, these stimulant drugs carry a high potential for abuse and severe psychological/physical dependence. Viloxazine, a non-stimulant medication without evidence of drug dependence, is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that has historically been prescribed as an anti-depressant medication. The extended-release (ER) form was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2021 for the treatment of ADHD in pediatric patients aged 6-17 years. Phase 2 and 3 randomized control trials have demonstrated significant efficacy of viloxazine in improving ADHD symptoms versus placebo. Related to its long-standing use as an antidepressant, the safety profile and pharmacokinetics of viloxazine are well understood. Viloxazine appears to be a suitable alternative to current standard-of-care pharmacotherapy for ADHD, but the further investigation remains to be done in comparing its efficacy to that of current treatments

Bark and wood properties of pulpwood species as related to separation and segregation of chip/bark mixtures. Project 3212, report two : a progress report to members of Group Project 3212

"February 14, 1975.""Members of Project 3212: Abitibi Paper Company, Ltd., Blandin Paper Company, the Procter and Gamble Company, Scott Paper Company, Weyerhaeuser Company.""The Institute of Paper Chemistry, Marianne L. Harder, research assistant, John D. Hankey, research associate, Dean W. Einspahr, senior research associate, and John W. Swanson, director, Division of Natural Materials and Systems.

Wood/bark adhesion and methods of reducing adhesion in hardwood species. Project 2929, report one : a progress report to Members of Group Project 2929.

"December 21, 1970.""The Institute of Paper Chemistry ... Dean W. Einspahr, John D. Hankey, W. A. Wink, Miles K. Benson, and John W. Swanson.