Values in risk perception - Studying the relationship between values and risk perception in three countries

Risk perception research has largely focused on finding how di$erent demographic variables predict risk perception dimensions. This article suggests including motivational values among the areas of focus, being a dimension shared across different demographical contexts. The methodology includes established and scrutinised tools from the values and risk perception fields respectively, combining them in a questionnaire. Data were gathered from South Africa, Sweden and the USA. The results support the hypothesis that there is a connection between motivational values and risk perception dimensions. Uses for disaster management are discussed. More advanced statistical methods and qualitative methods are suggested to delve deeper into this area

Kalkylmetoder vid företags investeringar

Syftet med denna studie är att studera svenska medelstora företag för att utröna vilka kalkylmetoder som används samt undersöka hur väl dessa kalkylmetoder motsvarar tre fastighetsbolags behov. Uppsatsen har genomförts med hjälp av abduktiv ansats. Inledningsvis genomfördes en kartläggningsstudie av kvantitativ karaktär. Varpå en kvalitativ fallstudie följde på tre fallföretag. Empirin utgörs av primärdata i form av en enkätundersökning samt en personlig intervju och flera telefonintervjuer, med totalt fyra personer på de tre fallföretagen. Den teoretiska referensramen utgörs av grundläggande teorier om kalkylmetoder, samt teorier av strategisk karaktär för att kunna beskriva det andra perspektivet vid investeringsbedömning. Teorikapitlet avslutas med en beskrivning av reala optioner för att ge en kort redogörelse av hur kalkylperspektivet kan kombineras med det strategiska perspektivet. Slutsatsen är att företag använder olika kalkylmetoder på grund av att de olika investeringar som görs är av olika karaktär. Dock har vi funnit att även företags strategiska målsättningar har stor betydelse vid investeringsbedömning vilket inte täcks upp av företagens kalkylmetoder. För att kombinera de strategiska målen med de kalkylmässiga kravnivåerna skulle reala optioner kunna nyttjas

Öppenhet vid redovisning av incitamentsprogram - En studie av praxis i årsredovisningar under 2001 till 2005.

Uppsatsen syftar till att klargöra om öppenheten vid redovisning av incitamentsprogram har ökat under åren 2001 till 2005, samt även diskutera vilka faktorer som har påverkat den eventuella förändringen av praxis i årsredovisningar. Från en första empirisk studie av den offentliga debatten har frågor härletts som senare använts vid den andra empiriska studien av årsredovisningar i tjugo utvalda företag. Den teoretiska referensram som använts vid analysen av empirin grundar sig i den institutionella teorin och vidareutvecklingar av denna. Våra studier av den offentliga debatten visar att det finns en efterfrågan från den offentliga debatten om en ökad öppenhet. Resultaten från innehållsanalysen fastslår att dessa krav fått genomslag och företagen lämnar mer information om sina incitamentsprogram 2005 jämfört med 2001

Comparison of mHealth and face-to-face interventions for smoking cessation among people living with HIV : meta-analysis

Background: The prevalence of smoking among people living with HIV (PLHIV) is higher than in the general population and a significant risk factor for non-communicable diseases in this group. Mobile phone interventions to promote healthier behaviours (mHealth) have the potential to reach a large number of people at a low cost. It has been hypothesized that mHealth interventions may not be as effective as face-to-face strategies in achieving smoking cessation, but there is no systematic evidence to support this, especially among PLHIV. Objective: To compare two modes of intervention delivery (mobile technology versus face-to-face) for smoking cessation among PLHIV. Methods: Literature on randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of mHealth or face-to-face intervention strategies on short-term (4 weeks to <6 months) and long-term (≥6 months) smoking abstinence among PLHIV were sought. We systematically reviewed the relevant RCTs and conducted pairwise meta-analyses to estimate the relative treatment effects of mHealth and face-to-face interventions using standard care as comparison. Given the absence of head-to-head trials comparing mHealth with face-to-face interventions, we performed an adjusted indirect comparison meta-analyses to compare these interventions. Results: Ten studies involving 1,772 PLHIV met the inclusion criteria. Average age of the study population was 45 years and women comprised about 37%. At short term, mHealth delivered interventions were significantly more efficacious in increasing smoking cessation than no intervention control (Risk Ratios [RR] 2.81, 95% CI 1.44 to 5.49) and face-to-face interventions (RR 2.31, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.72). At short-term, face-to-face interventions were no more effective than no intervention in increasing smoking cessation (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.58). In terms of achieving long term results among PLHIV, there was no significant difference in the rates of smoking cessation between mHealth delivered, face-to-face interventions and those who received no intervention. Conclusions: Compared with face-to-face interventions, mHealth delivered interventions can better increase smoking cessation rate in the short term. However, it remains unclear how long the effects of such interventions last. Future research should focus on strategies for sustaining the treatment effect in the long term

Pathogenic seedborne viruses are rare but Phaseolus vulgaris endornaviruses are common in bean varieties grown in Nicaragua and Tanzania

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an annual grain legume that was domesticated in Mesoamerica (Central America) and the Andes. It is currently grown widely also on other continents including Africa. We surveyed seedborne viruses in new common bean varieties introduced to Nicaragua (Central America) and in landraces and improved varieties grown in Tanzania (eastern Africa). Bean seeds, harvested from Nicaragua and Tanzania, were grown in insect-controlled greenhouse or screenhouse, respectively, to obtain leaf material for virus testing. Equal amounts of total RNA from different samples were pooled (30-36 samples per pool), and small RNAs were deep-sequenced (Illumina). Assembly of the reads (21-24 nt) to contiguous sequences and searches for homologous viral sequences in data-bases revealed Phaseolus vulgaris endornavirus 1 (PvEV-1) and PvEV-2 in the bean varieties in Nicaragua and Tanzania. These viruses are not known to cause symptoms in common bean and are considered non-pathogenic. The small-RNA reads from each pool of samples were mapped to the previously characterized complete PvEV-1 and PvEV-2 sequences (genome lengths ca. 14 kb and 15 kb, respectively). Coverage of the viral genomes was 87.9-99.9%, depending on the pool. Coverage per nucleotide ranged from 5 to 471, confirming virus identification. PvEV-1 and PvEV-2 are known to occur in Phaseolus spp. in Central America, but there is little previous information about their occurrence in Nicaragua, and no information about occurrence in Africa. Aside from Cowpea mild mosaic virus detected in bean plants grown from been seeds harvested from one region in Tanzania, no other pathogenic seedborne viruses were detected. The low incidence of infections caused by pathogenic viruses transmitted via bean seeds may be attributable to new, virus-resistant CB varieties released by breeding programs in Nicaragua and Tanzania.Peer reviewe

Controlling liver cancer internationally: A qualitative study of clinicians' perceptions of current public policy needs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh for women. Usually because of late diagnosis, the prognosis for liver cancer remains poor, resulting in liver cancer being the third most common cause of death from cancer. While some countries have treatment guidelines, little is known or understood about the strategies needed for liver cancer control internationally.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To explore leading liver cancer clinician's perceptions of the current public policy needs to control liver cancer internationally.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Key informant interviews were conducted with a range of liver cancer clinicians involved in policy in eleven countries. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated (where necessary), de-identified and analyzed by two researchers using a constant comparative method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted in: Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and the United States. Nine themes were identified and cluster into three groups: 1) Promoting prevention via early risk assessment, focusing on viral hepatitis and other lifestyle factors; 2) Increasing political, public and medical community awareness; and 3) Improving funding for screening, liver cancer surveillance and treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study is an important step towards developing an evidence-based approach to assessing preparedness for implementing comprehensive liver cancer control strategies. Evaluation mechanisms to assess countries' performance on the needs described are needed. Future research will concentrate of understanding how these needs vary across countries and the optimal strategies to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with liver cancer internationally.</p

Epidermal Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism and Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex process that may be influenced by many factors, including polymorphism in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene. Previous work suggests an association between the EGF 61*A/G polymorphism (rs4444903) and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of several studies covering a large population to address this controversy. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Data were abstracted independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between EGF 61*A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to HCC. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Eight studies were chosen in this meta-analysis, involving 1,304 HCC cases (1135 Chinese, 44 Caucasian and 125 mixed) and 2,613 controls (1638 Chinese, 77 Caucasian and 898 mixed). The EGF 61*G allele was significantly associated with increased risk of HCC based on allelic contrast (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.16-1.44, p<0.001), homozygote comparison (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.39-2.29, p<0.001) and a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.16-1.54, p<0.001), while patients carrying the EGF 61*A/A genotype had significantly lower risk of HCC than those with the G/A or G/G genotype (A/A vs. G/A+G/G, OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53-0.83, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The 61*G polymorphism in EGF is a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis while the EGF 61*A allele is a protective factor. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion

Prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms and reflux-associated respiratory symptoms in asthma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms are common in asthma and have been extensively studied, but less so in the Asian continent. Reflux-associated respiratory symptoms (RARS) have, in contrast, been little-studied globally. We report the prevalence of GORD symptoms and RARS in adult asthmatics, and their association with asthma severity and medication use.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional analytical study. A validated interviewer-administered GORD scale was used to assess frequency and severity of seven GORD symptoms. Subjects were consecutive asthmatics attending medical clinics. Controls were matched subjects without respiratory symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean (SD) composite GORD symptom score of asthmatics was significantly higher than controls (21.8 (17.2) versus 12.0 (7.6); <it>P </it>< 0.001) as was frequency of each symptom and RARS. Prevalence of GORD symptoms in asthmatics was 59.4% (95% CI, 59.1%-59.6%) versus 28.5% in controls (95% CI, 29.0% - 29.4%). 36% of asthmatics experienced respiratory symptoms in association with both typical and atypical GORD symptoms, compared to 10% of controls (<it>P </it>< 0.001). An asthmatic had a 3.5 times higher risk of experiencing a GORD symptom after adjusting for confounders (OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.5-5.3). Severity of asthma had a strong dose-response relationship with GORD symptoms. Asthma medication use did not significantly influence the presence of GORD symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>GORD symptoms and RARS were more prevalent in a cohort of Sri Lankan adult asthmatics compared to non-asthmatics. Increased prevalence of RARS is associated with both typical and atypical symptoms of GORD. Asthma disease and its severity, but not asthma medication, appear to influence presence of GORD symptoms.</p