Discriminating membrane proteins using the joint distribution of length sums of success and failure runs

Discriminating integral membrane proteins from water-soluble ones, has been over the past decades an important goal for computational molecular biology. A major drawback of methods appeared in the literature, is that most of the authors tried to solve the problem using machine learning techniques. Specifically, most of the proposed methods require an appropriate dataset for training, and consequently the results depend heavily on the suitability of the dataset, itself. Motivated by these facts, in this paper we develop a formal discrimination procedure that is based on appropriate theoretical observations on the sequence of hydrophobic and polar residues along the protein sequence and on the exact distribution of a two dimensional runs-related statistic defined on the same sequence. Specifically, for setting up our discrimination procedure, we study thoroughly the exact distribution of a bivariate random variable, which accumulates the exact lengths of both success and failure runs of at least a specific length in a sequence of Bernoulli trials. To investigate the properties of this bivariate random variable, we use the Markov chain embedding technique. Finally, we apply the new procedure to a well-defined dataset of proteins. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Patient Participation in Decision Making During Nursing Care in Greece-A Comparative Study

Aim: To describe patient participation in decision making during nursing care from patients' and nursing staff' perspectives. Methods: The sample consisted of medical and surgical patients (n = 300) and the nursing staff (n = 118) working in the respective wards in three general hospitals. A questionnaire was used for the study; data were collected from April 2009 to September 2010. Data were analyzed by an exploratory factor analysis. Results: Patient participation was recorded at a medium level during nursing care, although it was rated as important from both patients and nursing staff. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the factor structure for the planning and implementation of the nursing care. Providers and receivers of nursing care perceived participation in a similar way. Interpersonal interaction was supported from older and less educated patients, as well as from university-educated nurses. Patient participation was greater in practical aspects of care and limited in technical medical issues and supportive services. Conclusions: Patient participation, although moderate, was evident during nursing care in hospital settings. Paternalism in the decision-making process was the dominant trend, whereas interpersonal interaction between the parties was recognized as a prerequisite for planning nursing care. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Patients’ perceptions and preferences of participation in nursing care

The aim of this study was to investigate patients’ perceptions and preferences of their participation in nursing care during hospitalisation in Greece. The sample consisted of medical and surgical patients (n = 300). A questionnaire was developed to measure patients’ perception of participation, including an open question and the control preference scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative data analysis and content analysis for qualitative data. Participation was described as ‘information receiving and responsibility’ and ‘ability to influence’. One-third of the respondents preferred a collaborative role with the nurses, while 77.2% rationalised patient participation with the themes ‘strengthening patient’s role’, ‘improve hospitalisation’ and ‘collaborative relationship’. The meaning of participation seems to support shared information, patient responsibility and motivation during nursing care. Patients were aware of the positive effects of their involvement in care and were willing to assume, at least to some extent, an active role in their own care. Changes in nursing care organisation, nurses’ communication skills and additional educational strategies need to be developed and implemented in clinical practice to optimise patient participation. © 2016, © The Author(s) 2016

Patient participation in hospital care: Nursing staffs' point of view

The aim was to investigate nursing staff's perceptions related to patient participation and the parameters affecting it during nursing care. A cross-sectional study with both a quantitative and qualitative orientation was conducted. The sample consisted of all nursing staff working in medical and surgical wards in three Greek hospitals. A questionnaire was developed and the data were analysed with exploratory factor analysis, whereas content analysis was used for qualitative data. Nursing staff perceived participation as the process of information giving to patients, communication of symptoms by patients and compliance with the staff's orders. 'Information providing' and 'ability to influence and responsibility' were significant aspects of the content of participation, whereas the parameters affecting participation were related to patients, nursing staff and the care context. These results support patient engagement in dialogue and shared decision-making, while highlighting the need to implement participation systematically and stimulate changes in nursing care organization. © 2014 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd

Smoking cessation effectiveness in smokers with COPD and asthma under real life conditions

Introduction Although smoking cessation is strongly indicated by international guidelines as an effective therapeutic tool for patients with COPD and Asthma, a large proportion of them do not quit smoking and they are regarded as a difficult target group. Aim To study the effectiveness of an intensive smoking cessation program in smokers with COPD and asthma under real-life conditions. Methods 166 smokers with COPD, 120 smokers with asthma and 1854 control smokers attended the smoking cessation program in the out-patient patient Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Pulmonary Department in Athens University. Continuous Abstinence Rate (CAR) was evaluated in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the target quit date. Results Short-term CAR (in 3 months) was 49.4% for COPD smokers, 51.7% for asthmatic smokers and 48.0% for the control group of smokers. 12 months after the initial visit the CAR was 13.9%, 18.3% and 15.9%, respectively. No statistically significant differences between groups at any study period were found. Smokers with good compliance with the program had higher long-term CAR after 12 months: 37.7% in COPD smokers, 40.0% in asthmatic smokers and 39.3% in control smokers. High CAR was observed at all stages of COPD severity. Conclusion The results support the view that smokers with respiratory obstructive airway diseases of any severity should be offered an intensive smoking cessation program with regular and long-term follow-up. This will help them to achieve high abstinence rates and prevent relapses. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved