Managing behavioural symptoms of dementia : Effectiveness of staff education and peer support

This study was designed to investigate the impact of staff education on the behaviour and quality of life of residents with dementia and on staff members\u27 attitudes about working with people with dementia and level of burnout. Staff from three aged care facilities participated in the study (n = 52). These facilities were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups or a control group. Staff assigned to the intervention groups received an eight-week behaviourally-based programme. Staff from one aged care facility also participated in a peer support group designed to reinforce educational material and facilitate positive changes among staff members. Behavioural symptoms displayed by residents (n = 76) in each of the facilities were also assessed. Assessments were conducted at pre-intervention, post-intervention, three- and six-month follow-up. The results of this study indicated that education or peer support was not associated with an improvement in resident behaviour or quality of life. Education or peer support also did not impact on staff members\u27 level of burnout. There was, however, a change in staff members\u27 attitudes about working with people with dementia. Possible explanations for these findings and implication for further research are considered. <br /

Improved Nearside-Farside Decomposition of Elastic Scattering Amplitudes

A simple technique is described, that provides improved nearside-farside (NF) decompositions of elastic scattering amplitudes. The technique, involving the resummation of a Legendre partial wave series, reduces the importance of unphysical contributions to NF subamplitudes, which can arise in more conventional NF decompositions. Applications are made to a strong absorption model and to a $^{16}$O + $^{12}$C optical potential at $E_{\text{lab}} = 132$ MeV.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Using screen video capture software to aide and inform cognitive interviewing

Web-based surveys are a salient tool in the repertoire of social and behavioral scientists. The increase in web-based surveys is understandable considering the distinct advantages offered, including: (a) lower costs and reduced labor time, (b) ability to directly transfer data into statistical packages (reducing coding errors), (c) customization options enabling more attractive presentation, (d) ability to reduce respondent burden by embedding skip patterns, and (e) access to larger sample sizes in different geographic regions. It is important to note, however, that administering web-based surveys also introduces distinct sources of error (e.g., coverage, sampling and non-response). Regardless of format (e.g., paper-and-pencil or web-based), specific, prescribed steps must be followed when constructing an instrument in order to reduce survey error and lend credence to the data collected before subsequent analysis is performed. One of those crucial stages integral to the pretesting process is cognitive interviewing. Cognitive interviewing is a qualitative process, encompassing two main techniques: think aloud interviewing and verbal probing. Collectively, these two methods seek to (a) produce information on what the respondent is thinking while answering the questions, (b) the cognitive processes used to answer the questions, and (c) how the respondent answers the questions. The purpose of this article is to provide a practical guide outlining how Camtasia, a screen video capture software, can aide and inform the cognitive interview process

Temperature-dependent magnetization in diluted magnetic semiconductors

We calculate magnetization in magnetically doped semiconductors assuming a local exchange model of carrier-mediated ferromagnetic mechanism and using a number of complementary theoretical approaches. In general, we find that the results of our mean-field calculations, particularly the dynamical mean field theory results, give excellent qualitative agreement with the experimentally observed magnetization in systems with itinerant charge carriers, such as Ga_{1-x}Mn_xAs with 0.03 < x < 0.07, whereas our percolation-theory-based calculations agree well with the existing data in strongly insulating materials, such as Ge_{1-x}Mn_x. We comment on the issue of non-mean-field like magnetization curves and on the observed incomplete saturation magnetization values in diluted magnetic semiconductors from our theoretical perspective. In agreement with experimental observations, we find the carrier density to be the crucial parameter determining the magnetization behavior. Our calculated dependence of magnetization on external magnetic field is also in excellent agreement with the existing experimental data.Comment: 17 pages, 15 figure

Development of randomized trials in adults with medulloblastoma - the example of EORTC 1634-BTG/NOA-23

Simple Summary Medulloblastoma is rare after puberty. Among several molecular subgroups that have been described, the sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup is highly overrepresented in the post-pubertal population and can be targeted with smoothened (SMO) inhibitors. However, no practice-changing prospective clinical trials have been published in adults to date. Tumors often recur, and treatment toxicity is relevant. Thus, the EORTC 1634-BTG/NOA-23 trial for post-pubertal patients with standard risk medulloblastoma will aim to increase treatment efficacy and to decrease treatment toxicity. Patients will be randomized between standard-dose vs. reduced-dosed radiotherapy, and SHH-subgroup patients will also be randomized between the SMO inhibitor sonidegib (Odomzo(TM,), Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Inc., New York, USA) in addition to standard radio-chemotherapy vs. standard radio-chemotherapy alone. In ancillary studies, we will investigate tumor tissue, blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples, magnetic resonance images, and radiotherapy plans to gain information that may improve future treatment. Patients will also be monitored long-term for late side effects of therapy, health-related quality of life, cognitive function, social and professional live outcomes, and reproduction and fertility. In summary, EORTC 1634-BTG/NOA-23 is a unique multi-national effort that will help to council patients and clinical scientists for the appropriate design of treatments and future clinical trials for post-pubertal patients with medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is a rare brain malignancy. Patients after puberty are rare and bear an intermediate prognosis. Standard treatment consists of maximal resection plus radio-chemotherapy. Treatment toxicity is high and produces disabling long-term side effects. The sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup is highly overrepresented in the post-pubertal and adult population and can be targeted by smoothened (SMO) inhibitors. No practice-changing prospective randomized data have been generated in adults. The EORTC 1634-BTG/NOA-23 trial will randomize patients between standard-dose vs. reduced-dosed craniospinal radiotherapy and SHH-subgroup patients between the SMO inhibitor sonidegib (Odomzo(TM), Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries, Inc., New York, USA) in addition to standard radio-chemotherapy vs. standard radio-chemotherapy alone to improve outcomes in view of decreased radiotherapy-related toxicity and increased efficacy. We will further investigate tumor tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid as well as magnetic resonance imaging and radiotherapy plans to generate information that helps to further improve treatment outcomes. Given that treatment side effects typically occur late, long-term follow-up will monitor classic side effects of therapy, but also health-related quality of life, cognition, social and professional outcome, and reproduction and fertility. In summary, we will generate unprecedented data that will be translated into treatment changes in post-pubertal patients with medulloblastoma and will help to design future clinical trials.Neurolog

Is (poly-) substance use associated with impaired inhibitory control? A mega-analysis controlling for confounders.

Many studies have reported that heavy substance use is associated with impaired response inhibition. Studies typically focused on associations with a single substance, while polysubstance use is common. Further, most studies compared heavy users with light/non-users, though substance use occurs along a continuum. The current mega-analysis accounted for these issues by aggregating individual data from 43 studies (3610 adult participants) that used the Go/No-Go (GNG) or Stop-signal task (SST) to assess inhibition among mostly "recreational" substance users (i.e., the rate of substance use disorders was low). Main and interaction effects of substance use, demographics, and task-characteristics were entered in a linear mixed model. Contrary to many studies and reviews in the field, we found that only lifetime cannabis use was associated with impaired response inhibition in the SST. An interaction effect was also observed: the relationship between tobacco use and response inhibition (in the SST) differed between cannabis users and non-users, with a negative association between tobacco use and inhibition in the cannabis non-users. In addition, participants' age, education level, and some task characteristics influenced inhibition outcomes. Overall, we found limited support for impaired inhibition among substance users when controlling for demographics and task-characteristics

Perceptions of relationship and sexual satisfaction among people with multiple sclerosis and their partners

The study evaluated relationships and sexuality among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their partners. The results were compared to findings among couples in the general population. Participants were 45 heterosexual people with MS and their partners and 32 heterosexual people from the general population and their partners. There was a high level of concordance between the views of couples from the general population, but not among couples where one partner had MS. Partners of people with MS were more likely than people with MS to feel that MS had a negative impact on the physical and emotional support in their relationship. People with MS also experienced more problems in their relationship and sexual functioning, but not their sexual satisfaction, than people from the general population. The implications of these results in terms of support programs for people with MS and their partners are discussed

Power as a function of reliability

Many studies employ multiple measurement instruments such as human raters, observers, judges, or mechanical gauges to record subject data. It is well known that the consistency of these instruments, commonly called rater reliability, limits the extent to which conclusions should be drawn from the observed data. However, the degree to which rater reliability limits conclusions has traditionally been assessed in only subjective manners. In this paper, a method is developed for objectively quantifying the impact of rate reliability on the statistical analysis of data from a commonly used collection scheme. This method allows the inclusion of a reliability index in statistical power calculations and is an invaluable tool in the planning of experiments

"Who thinks I need a perfect body?" perceptions and internal dialogue among adolescents about their bodies

Objective: The main aim of this study was to provide a detailed examination of the nature of the messages that adolescent boys and girls receive about their body. Method: Forty adolescent boys and 40 adolescent girls participated in an in-depth interview to gain an understanding of the range of potential 'sources' of body-related messages. Results: Messages were organized around the source of these messages (self, mother, father, brother, sister, female friends, male friends, media). There were consistent gender differences in the way that adolescents received and interpreted messages about their bodies, with girls overall receiving more positive and negative messages than boys. Boys reported receiving virtually no negative messages from most people. Discussion: The content of internal dialogue among adolescents revealed that messages about the body could be interpreted, distorted and deflected. The implications of these findings for preventing body image related problems and disordered eating among adolescents are discussed