CAUSAL ATTRIBUTIONS AND SMOKING BEHAVIORS IN CERVICAL CANCER SURVIVORS: A MIXED-METHODS PILOT STUDY

This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study examined the nature of, and association between, causal attributions and current smoking behavior in cervical cancer survivors who were smokers at cancer diagnosis (n=50). As a whole, participants’ beliefs about smoking as a risk factor or cause of cervical cancer in general (i.e., global attribution) and/or their own cervical cancer (i.e., personal attribution) reflected far greater endorsement of global than personal attributions. Data collection involved a quantitative survey and an optional semi-structured interview to assess key variables (i.e., smoking behavior and causal attributions). Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and inferential tests, all of which illustrated greater endorsement of global smoking-related causal attributions versus personal attributions within the sample. In conclusion, the results of this formative study highlights the potential role of causal attributions in understanding the smoking behavior of cervical cancer survivors, the results of which aids understanding of how cancer survivors think about, and make changes in, their smoking behavior

Financial distress, corporate takeovers and the distress anomaly

Purpose: This paper examines the relation between takeover likelihood and the documented underperformance of distressed company stocks while exploring two competing hypotheses. The failure risk explanation predicts lower returns to distressed firms with high probability of being acquired because the acquisition reduces risk and investors\u27 required return. Conversely, the agency conflicts explanation predicts lower returns when acquisition is unlikely. Design/methodology/approach: The likelihood of receiving a takeover bid is estimated, and portfolio tests explore the underperformance of distressed company stocks relative to non-distressed stocks across varying levels of takeover likelihood. Predictive regressions subsequently examine the relation between distress, takeover exposure and future firm operating performance including how the relation is affected by state anti-takeover laws. Findings: Distressed stocks underperform non-distressed company stocks by economically and statistically significant margins when takeover likelihood is low, yet there is no evidence of underperformance among distressed stocks with moderate or high takeover exposure. Consistent with agency conflicts playing a key role, distressed firms that are disciplined by takeover threats invest more, use more leverage and experience higher future profitability. State-level anti-takeover legislation limits this disciplinary effect, however. Originality/value: The results show that the well-documented distress anomaly is driven by a subset of distressed firms whose managers face limited pressure from the external takeover market. The evidence casts doubt on the failure risk explanation and suggests that agency conflicts play a key role

Cryptocurrency return reversals

Analysing a set of 200 cryptocurrencies over the period from 2015 to 2019, we document a significant return reversal effect that holds at the daily, weekly, and monthly rebalancing frequencies and is robust to controls for differences in size, turnover, and illiquidity. Moreover, the reversal effect persists during both halves of our sample period and following periods of both high and low market implied volatility. Consistent with the effect being driven by a combination of market inefficiency and compensation for liquidity provision, we find reversals are most pronounced among smaller capitalization and less liquid cryptocurrencies

Development and Validation of an Algorithm for the Digitization of ECG Paper Images

The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal describes the heart’s electrical activity, allowing it to detect several health conditions, including cardiac system abnormalities and dysfunctions. Nowadays, most patient medical records are still paper-based, especially those made in past decades. The importance of collecting digitized ECGs is twofold: firstly, all medical applications can be easily implemented with an engineering approach if the ECGs are treated as signals; secondly, paper ECGs can deteriorate over time, therefore a correct evaluation of the patient’s clinical evolution is not always guaranteed. The goal of this paper is the realization of an automatic conversion algorithm from paper-based ECGs (images) to digital ECG signals. The algorithm involves a digitization process tested on an image set of 16 subjects, also with pathologies. The quantitative analysis of the digitization method is carried out by evaluating the repeatability and reproducibility of the algorithm. The digitization accuracy is evaluated both on the entire signal and on six ECG time parameters (R-R peak distance, QRS complex duration, QT interval, PQ interval, P-wave duration, and heart rate). Results demonstrate the algorithm efficiency has an average Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.94 and measurement errors of the ECG time parameters are always less than 1 mm. Due to the promising experimental results, the algorithm could be embedded into a graphical interface, becoming a measurement and collection tool for cardiologists

La morale delle antitesi (Considerazioni su Mt 5, 17-48)

11 presente studio assume come punto di partenza la cultura «occidentale», ambito per eccellenza delle libertá e del pluralismo. In tale contesto di vita e di idee hanno pari diritto di cittadinanza diverse e a volte contrastanti visioni del mondo, dell'uomo e di Dio; svariate sono inoltre le posizioni circa la possibilita e la portata o la legittimita che la. dimensione religiosa del cristiano sia riconosciuta non solo in ambito privato ma anche pubblico come depositaria di valori o di un etbos capaci di ispirare forme delta stessa vita sociale

A Longitudinal Study of the Reciprocal Relationship Between Ever Smoking and Urgency in Early Adolescence

Background—Among early adolescents in the United States (U.S.), the prevalence of cigarette smoking is at its lowest level in recent decades. Nonetheless, given the risks of smoking in early development, it remains critically important to study both risk factors for smoking and risks from smoking. This longitudinal study with U.S. early adolescents examines smoking initiation and tests a model of reciprocal prediction between ever smoking and the personality trait of urgency (i.e., mood-based impulsivity), a trait that increases risk for multiple forms of dysfunction. Methods—Participants (n=1906; 90% 10–11 years old, 50% female, 39% racial minorities at baseline) completed questionnaires 1–2 times per year starting in 5th grade and ending in 9th grade. Structural equation modeling allowed tests of bidirectional relationships between ever smoking and urgency controlling for pubertal status and negative affect at each wave. Results—Incidence of ever smoking increased from 5% to 27% over time, with current smoking around 5% at the last wave. Urgency at each wave predicted ever smoking at the next wave above and beyond covariates and prior smoking (all p \u3c .01). Likewise, with one exception, ever smoking predicted an increase in urgency at the subsequent wave above and beyond covariates and prior urgency (all p \u3c .05). Conclusion—Results show that risk for smoking increases with higher levels of urgency and urgency increases secondary to engagement in smoking. Future work should therefore explore urgency as a point of prevention for smoking and smoking cessation as a means to mitigate mood-based impulsivity

Impact of diffusion and dispersion of contaminants in water distribution networks modelling and monitoring

Abstract In recent years, there has been a need to seek adequate preventive measures to deal with contamination in water distribution networks that may be related to the accidental contamination and the deliberate injection of toxic agents. Therefore, it is very important to create a sensor system that detects contamination events in real time, maintains the reliability and efficiency of measurements, and limits the cost of the instrumentation. To this aim, two problems have to be faced: practical difficulties connected to the experimental verification of the optimal sensor configuration efficiency on real operating systems and challenges related to the reliability of the network modelling approaches, which usually neglect the dispersion and diffusion phenomena. The present study applies a numerical optimization approach using the NSGA-II genetic algorithm that was coupled with a new diffusive-dispersive hydraulic simulator. The results are compared with those of an experimental campaign on a laboratory network (Enna, Italy) equipped with a real-time water quality monitoring system and those of a full-scale real distribution network (Zandvoort, Netherlands). The results showed the importance of diffusive processes when flow velocity in the network is low. Neglecting diffusion can negatively influence the water quality sensor positioning, leading to inefficient monitoring networks

Herbicidal activity of essential oils extracted from different Mediterranean species against Echinochloa crus galli

Weed infestation in agricultural fields can cause huge economic losses and low-quality crop yields. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv. (barnyardgrass) is one of the greatest yields limiting weeds in rice cultivation systems. It is a cosmopolitan weed in both temperate and tropical regions and is reported as a weed in 36 different crops in 61 countries. The success of this weed may be attributed to the production of large numbers of small, easily dispersed seeds per plant, possession of seed dormancy, rapid development and ability to flower under a wide range of photoperiods, and relative resistance of mature plants to herbicide sprays. Thus, the best way to control barnyardgrass in an environmentally acceptable and sustainable approach is to develop eco-friendly and effective alternative means based on natural allelochemicals. Among the natural plant products, essential oils (EOs) constitute an important group. EOs may help reducing the use of synthetic herbicides and lead to less pollution and more safe agricultural products. Recently, the interest in exploring EOs with phytotoxic effects from aromatic plants for weed control has increased tremendously, because they do not persist in soil and do not leach into ground water. EOs extracted from Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav.; Mentha x piperita L.; and Santolina chamaecyparissus L. were reported to reduce the emergence and seedling growth of many weeds. The present investigation allows for a more detailed insight into the herbicidal activity of the previously mentioned EOs during spray foliar and irrigation application in post-emergence on E. crus-galli plants. T. capitata M. piperita and S. chamaecyparissus EOs were purchased from “Bordas Chinchurreta”, “Sigma-Aldrich” and and “Aromas de Ademuz”, respectively. Soil for the experiments was collected from the topsoil of a citrus field not treated with herbicides (Valencia, Spain), that was air-dried and sieved at 1 cm. E.crus-galli seeds were purchased from Herbiseed (England), and germinated in a germination-growth chamber at 30 ± 0.1 °C, 16 h in light and 20 ± 0.1 °C, 8 h in dark. Once the seedlings of E.crus-galli emerged, they were placed on pots (8x8x7 cm) filled with 2 cm of perlite at the bottom and 5 cm of the collected soil. Ten pots per treatment were prepared and placed in the greenhouse. In order to find the most effective dose of EOs and its adequate mode of application, different concentrations were used: 12, 16 and 20 µL/mL for Mentha and Santolina EOs and 4, 8 and 12 µL/mL for Thymbra EO. Fitoil was used as emulsifier at a concentration of 0.05% (v/v). Plants of barnyardgrass were treated at two-leaf stage by irrigating and spraying mode of application. To monitor the experiments, photos were taken after 24, 48 and 72 hours; and then once a week. The photos were processed with Digimizer software to obtain different data: efficacy of the treatment, level of damage, height of plants, weed plant fresh and dry weight

Patient Follow-Up After Participating in a Beach-Based Skin Cancer Screening Program

Many skin cancer screenings occur in non-traditional community settings, with the beach being an important setting due to beachgoers being at high risk for skin cancer. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a skin cancer intervention in which participants (n = 312) had a full-body skin examination by a clinician and received a presumptive diagnosis (abnormal finding, no abnormal finding). Participants’ pursuit of follow-up was assessed post-intervention (n = 283). Analyses examined: (1) participant’s recall of screening results; and (2) whether cognitive and behavioral variables were associated with follow-up being as advised. Just 12% of participants (36/312) did not correctly recall the results of their skin examination. One-third (33%, 93/283) of participants’ follow-up was classified as being not as advised (recommend follow-up not pursued, unadvised follow-up pursued). Among participants whose follow-up was not as advised, 71% (66/93) did not seek recommended care. None of the measured behavioral and cognitive variables were significantly associated with recall of screening examination results or whether follow-up was as advised. Research is needed to determine what factors are associated with follow-up being as advised and to develop messages that increase receipt of advised follow-up care

Energy Recovery in Water Distribution Networks. Implementation of Pumps as Turbine in a Dynamic Numerical Model

In complex networks characterized by the presence of private tanks, water managers usually apply intermittent distribution, thus reducing the water volumes supplied to the users, or use Pressure Reduction Valves (PRV) for controlling pressure in the network. The application of Pump As Turbines (PATs) appears as an alternative and sustainable solution to either control network pressure as well as to produce energy. In the present paper, the hydrodynamic model, already presented by De Marchis et al. (2011) was further developed introducing the dynamic analysis of PATs. The model was applied to a district of Palermo network (Italy) characterized by intermittent distribution and by inequities among the user in term of water supply. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd