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This study proposes a unique workflow to unravel complex burial diagenetic histories of overpressured basins based on the integration of seismic and well log data, biostratigraphy, petrography, clumped isotope analyses and basin modelling. This approach is demonstrated with an example from the Chalk Group in the Danish Central Graben, where a seismic‐scale palaeo‐lithification front has been observed and studied in detail to elucidate the timing of the establishment of overpressured conditions and its relation to changing diagenetic activity. The palaeo‐lithification front separates high‐porosity chalks above, that dominantly underwent mechanical compaction and contact cementation, from low‐porosity chalk below, that dominantly underwent severe pressure dissolution and pore‐filling cementation. Analysis of chalk buried under hydrostatic conditions shows a strikingly similar lithification front between 1000 and 1200 m burial, much shallower than the lithification front in the Danish Central Graben at a current depth between 2100 and 2400 m below seafloor. The discrepancy of 1200 m is due to the establishment of overpressured conditions that limited the increase in effective stress as burial continued, finally halting burial compaction when formation fluids started to carry the lithostatic weight. Basin modelling data indicate that this occurred at the end of the Oligocene for large parts of the Danish Central Graben, which is much earlier than the Middle Miocene timing that is currently assumed. The results imply a regional occurrence of a relict lithification front in the North Sea Basin, its position guided by stratigraphy, but mainly dependent on the maximum effective stress experienced during its burial history. The study shows that the porosity bipartition is a remnant of the past and not from ongoing compaction as has previously been suggested. Since it was established before the thermal maturity of the main source rocks, chalk below the lithification front must have formed a sealing unit during hydrocarbon migration. The recognition of the lithification front is also of importance to velocity modelling and depth‐conversion since a non‐linear increase between velocity and depth is expected across this boundary. The methodology may be applied in other overpressured basins where the diagenetic state of reservoir rocks at the end of hydrostatic conditions must be constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted as a part of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) global study for establishing reference intervals (RIs) of common laboratory tests for the South African population considering gender, ethnicity, age and body mass index (BMI). Methods: The researchers recruited 1 143 apparently healthy volunteers aged 18-65: 551 African (Afr) and 592 non-African (NAfr) (comprising 383 Caucasian and 209 Mixed Ancestry). Serum samples were measured for 40 chemistry and immunochemistry analytes. The standard deviation ratio (SDR) guided the need for partitioning reference values according to gender, ethnicity and age using a threshold of = 0.4. The latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method was applied to reduce influences of latent diseases before deriving RIs using both parametric and non-parametric methods. Results: Based on SDRsex, males showed higher albumin, uric acid, creatinine, AST, CK and ferritin. Based on SDRRC, Afr compared to NAfr showed (i) higher total protein, amylase, CRP, immunoglobulin G and A and (ii) lower total bilirubin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ALT and cholinesterase. Both age-related changes in glucose and LDL-C, and BMI-related changes in ALT, ALP and LDH were more prominent in NAfr. RIs were determined according to gender, age and ethnicity. The LAVE method was effective in lowering the upper RI limits (UL) of nutritional markers such as ΔGT and CRP. Compared to the non-parametric method, the parametric method gave narrower confidence intervals of ULs for analytes with skewed distributions. Conclusion: Establishing RIs by considering ethnicity was essential in many analytes in South Africa. Age and BMI-related changes differed greatly between Afr and NAfr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Kilometre‐scale geobodies of diagenetic origin have been documented for the first time in a high‐resolution 3D seismic survey of the Upper Cretaceous chalks of the Danish Central Graben, North Sea Basin. Based on detailed geochemical, petrographic and petrophysical analyses, it is demonstrated that the geobodies are of an open‐system diagenetic origin caused by ascending basin fluids guided by faults and stratigraphic heterogeneities. Increased amounts of porosity‐occluding cementation, contact cement and/or high‐density/high‐velocity minerals caused an impedance contrast that can be mapped in seismic data, and represent a hitherto unrecognized, third type of heterogeneity in the chalk deposits in addition to the well‐known sedimentological and structural features. The distribution of the diagenetic geobodies is controlled by porosity/permeability contrasts of stratigraphic origin, such as hardgrounds associated with formation tops, and the feeder fault systems. One of these, the Top Campanian Unconformity at the top of the Gorm Formation, is particularly effective and created a basin‐wide barrier separating low‐porosity chalk below from high‐porosity chalk above (a Regional Porosity Marker, RPM). It is in particular in this upper high‐porosity unit (Tor and Ekofisk Formations) that the diagenetic geobodies occur, delineated by “Stratigraphy Cross‐cutting Reflectors” (SCRs) of which eight different types have been distinguished. The geobodies have been interpreted as the result of: (i) escaping pore fluids due to top seal failure, followed by local mechanical compaction of high‐porous chalks, paired with (ii) ascension of basinal diagenetic fluids along fault systems that locally triggered cementation of calcite and dolomite within the chalk, causing increased contact cements and/or reducing porosity. The migration pathway of the fluids is marked by the SCRs, which are the outlines of high‐density bodies of chalk nested in highly porous chalks. This study, thus, provides new insights into the 3D relationship between fault systems, fluid migration and diagenesis in chalks and has important applications for basin modelling and reservoir characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Jumping to negative conclusions - a case of study-gathering bias?" by S. Moritz and colleagues in the 2016 issue.

Background.Metacognitive training (MCT) for schizophrenia spectrum is widely implemented. It is timely to systematically review the literature and to conduct a meta-analysis.Method.Eligible studies were selected from several sources (databases and expert suggestions). Criteria included comparative studies with a MCT condition measuring positive symptoms and/or delusions and/or data-gathering bias. Three meta-analyses were conducted on data gathering (three studies; 219 participants), delusions (seven studies; 500 participants) and positive symptoms (nine studies; 436 participants). Hedges’ g is reported as the effect size of interest. Statistical power was sufficient to detect small to moderate effects.Results.All analyses yielded small non-significant effect sizes (0.26 for positive symptoms; 0.22 for delusions; 0.31 for data-gathering bias). Corrections for publication bias further reduced the effect sizes to 0.21 for positive symptoms and to 0.03 for delusions. In blinded studies, the corrected effect sizes were 0.22 for positive symptoms and 0.03 for delusions. In studies using proper intention-to-treat statistics the effect sizes were 0.10 for positive symptoms and −0.02 for delusions. The moderate to high heterogeneity in most analyses suggests that processes other than MCT alone have an impact on the results.Conclusions.The studies so far do not support a positive effect for MCT on positive symptoms, delusions and data gathering. The methodology of most studies was poor and sensitivity analyses to control for methodological flaws reduced the effect sizes considerably. More rigorous research would be helpful in order to create enough statistical power to detect small effect sizes and to reduce heterogeneity. Limitations and strengths are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BackgroundAlthough depression is a common problem among non-professional caregivers, only one trial has evaluated the efficacy of indicated prevention targeting this population and the long-term efficacy is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of a brief intervention for the indicated prevention of depression in a sample of female caregivers.MethodA randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 173 participants (mean age 53.9 years) who were allocated to the intervention (n = 89) or the usual-care control group (n = 84). Blinded interviewers conducted assessments at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. The main outcome measure was the incidence of major depression and the secondary outcomes were compliance with treatment, depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden.ResultsAt the 12-month follow-up, a lower incidence of depression as evaluated using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders of the DSM-IV was found in the intervention group compared with the control group (10.1% v. 25.0%). The relative risk was 0.40 and statistically significant [χ2 = 6.68, degrees of freedom = 1, p = 0.010, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.81], and the number needed to treat was 7 (95% CI 4–27). There was a significant delay in the onset of depression in the intervention group (p = 0.008). The good complier caregivers had a lower incidence of depression. The intervention effect on depressive symptoms, emotional distress and caregiver burden were maintained for 12 months.ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that a brief problem-solving intervention can prevent the onset of depression among non-professional caregivers over the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BackgroundAlthough there is evidence for the effectiveness of interventions for psychosis among ultra-high-risk (UHR) groups, health economic evaluations are lacking. This study aimed to determine the cost effectiveness and cost–utility of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) to prevent first-episode psychosis.MethodThe Dutch Early Detection and Intervention Evaluation study was a randomized controlled trial of 196 UHR patients with an 18-month follow-up. All participants were treated with routine care (RC) for non-psychotic disorders. The experimental group (n = 95) received add-on CBT to prevent first-episode psychosis. We report the intervention, medical and travel costs, as well as costs arising from loss of productivity. Treatment response was defined as psychosis-free survival and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained.ResultsIn the cost-effectiveness analysis, the proportion of averted psychoses was significantly higher in the CBT condition (89.5% v. 76.2%). CBT showed a 63.7% probability of being more cost effective, because it was less costly than RC by US$844 (£551) per prevented psychosis. In the cost–utility analysis, QALY health gains were slightly higher for CBT than for RC (0.60 v. 0.57) and the CBT intervention had a 52.3% probability of being the superior treatment because, for equal or better QALY gains, the costs of CBT were lower than those of RC.ConclusionsAdd-on preventive CBT for UHR resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of first psychosis. QALY gains show little difference between the two conditions. The CBT intervention proved to be cost saving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study is to develop a structured approach to distinguishing large-artery vasculitis from atherosclerosis using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with low-dose computed tomography (FDG PET/CT). Methods: FDG PET/CT images of 60 patients were evaluated, 30 having biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA; the most common form of large-artery vasculitis), and 30 with severe atherosclerosis. Images were evaluated by 12 nuclear medicine physicians using 5 criteria: FDG uptake pattern (intensity, distribution, circularity), the degree of calcification, and co-localization of calcifications with FDG-uptake. Criteria that passed agreement, and reliability tests were subsequently analysed for accuracy using receiver operator curve (ROC) analyses. Criteria that showed discriminative ability were then combined in a multi-component scoring system. Both initial and final 'gestalt' conclusion were also reported by observers before and after detailed examination of the images. Results: Agreement and reliability analyses disqualified 3 of the 5 criteria, leaving only FDG uptake intensity compared to liver uptake and arterial wall calcification for potential use in a scoring system. ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.90 (95%CI 0.87–0.92) for FDG uptake intensity. Degree of calcification showed poor discriminative ability on its own (AUC of 0.62; 95%CI 0.58–0.66). When combining presence of calcification with FDG uptake intensity into a 6-tiered scoring system, the AUC remained similar at 0.91 (95%CI 0.88–0.93). After exclusion of cases with arterial prostheses, the AUC increased to 0.93 (95%CI 0.91–0.95). The accuracy of the 'gestalt' conclusion was initially 89% (95%CI 86–91%) and increased to 93% (95%CI 91–95%) after detailed image examination. Conclusion: Standardised assessment of arterial wall FDG uptake intensity, preferably combined with assessment of arterial calcifications into a scoring method, enables accurate, but not perfect, distinction between large artery vasculitis and atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batelaan NM, Smit F, de Graaf R, van Balkom AJLM, Vollebergh WAM, Beekman ATF. Identifying target groups for the prevention of anxiety disorders in the general population. Objective: To avert the public health consequences of anxiety disorders, prevention of their onset and recurrence is necessary. Recent studies have shown that prevention is effective. To maximize the health gain and minimize the effort, preventive strategies should focus on high-risk groups. Method: Using data from a large prospective national survey, high-risk groups were selected for i) the prevention of first ever ( n = 4437) and ii) either first-ever or recurrent incident anxiety disorders ( n = 4886). Indices used were: exposure rate, odds ratio, population attributable fraction and number needed to be treated. Risk indicators included sociodemographic, psychological and illness-related factors. Results: Recognition of a few patient characteristics enables efficient identification of high-risk groups: (subthreshold) panic attacks; an affective disorder; a history of depressed mood; a prior anxiety disorder; chronic somatic illnesses and low mastery. Conclusion: Preventive efforts should be undertaken in the selected high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotelemetry, mark-recapture trapping, and microsatellite analysis of genetic variation among three subpopulations were used to investigate the natal dispersal patterns, genetic structure, and social organization within a high-density island population of an insectivorous marsupial, the swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus (É. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1803)). Both demographic and genetic data indicated a high degree of philopatry for both sexes. Associated with high philopatry is low gene flow, often leading to high population genetic structuring. However, there was only weak evidence to support this; allele frequencies and genotype composition of one population tended to be different from the other two. Interestingly, timing of breeding of this subpopulation was delayed compared with the other two subpopulations. The philopatry of both sexes and the apparent lack of kin avoidance behaviour could lead to inbreeding. However, no apparent inbreeding effects were observed and offspring survival was high compared with mainland populations. The fact that male home-range size increased during the breeding season, overlapping with several females, and single females were found nesting with different males at the time of mating (and vice versa) indicates a promiscuous mating system. Potentially, this may reduce inbreeding to some extent. Alternatively, inbreeding may not be purposefully avoided, potentially leading to purging of detrimental alleles, thereby reducing their damaging effects on inbreeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study seeks to examine the incidence of social phobia in the general population and to establish a number of risk indicators. Method: Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS) which is a population based prospective study ( n = 7076). A sample of adults aged 18–64 years ( n = 5618) were re-interviewed 1 year later using Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Results: The 12-month incidence of DSM-III-R social phobia was 1.0%. Low education, low mastery, low self-esteem, emotional neglect in childhood and ongoing difficulties were found to be risk indicators. After including other mental disorders as risk indicators in the model, the incidence was found to be more common among those with low mastery, major depression, subthreshold social phobia, emotional neglect, negative life events, and low education. Conclusion: The incidence of social phobia can be predicted relatively well with psychosocial variables and comorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Airway obstruction in acute asthma is the result of airway smooth muscle contraction, inflammation and mucus plugging. Case reports suggest that mucolytic therapy might be beneficial in acute asthma. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the mucolytic drug recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) in addition to standard treatment at the emergency department in children with an asthma exacerbation. Methods: In a multicentre randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial, 121 children brought to the emergency room for a moderate to severe asthma exacerbation were randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of 5 mg nebulised rhDNase or placebo following the second dose of bronchodilators. An asthma score (scale 5-15) was assessed at baseline and at 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 h. The primary outcome variable was the asthma score 1 h after the study medication. Results: One hour after the study medication the asthma score in the rhDNase group showed an adjusted mean decrease from baseline of 1.0 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.6) points compared with 0.7 (95% CI 0.3 to 1.2) points in the placebo group (mean difference 0.4 (95% CI -0.2 to 1.0) points; p = 0.23). The asthma score over the study period of 24 h also did not differ significantly between the rhDNase and placebo group (mean difference 0.2 (95% CI -0.3 to 0.7) points, p = 0.40). The duration of oxygen supplementation and number of bronchodilator treatments in the first 24 h were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Adding a single dose of nebulised rhDNase to standard treatment in the emergency room has no beneficial effects in children with moderate to severe acute asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are strong links between habitat fragmentation, population size and genetic structure. However, to fully understand the long-term effects of fragmentation on population viability, it is necessary to first understand the relationship between life history traits and genetic characteristics in un-fragmented habitats. This is best done through comparing patterns of genetic diversity in sympatric species, since relative data may be maximally informative. We compared genetic structure and diversity among three sympatric small mammals – of which two were marsupial species – over a small spatial scale (<4 km) using microsatellite genotypic data from individuals sampled from four grids spaced in a linear fashion. Expected heterozygosity was high for all three species (average He range: 0.781–0.886), but the smallest species had significantly higher genetic diversity (both heterozygosity and allelic diversity) than the two larger species, possibly due to it having; 1) large effective population size and little overlap in generations, and/or 2) high mutation rates in large alleles. Genotypic isolation by distance (measured as relatedness) was detected only at the smallest distance of 750 m, for any species. In the two marsupial species Fst, relatedness and percentage of individuals assigned to site of capture were significantly lower in males than in females, corroborating previous reports of male-biased dispersal. However, sex-biased dispersal was not detected for the third species (the native bush rat Rattus fuscipes), and presence of significant heterozygous deficits suggested this resulted in inbreeding within kin-structured demes. We speculate that habitat fragmentation will have differing effects on population dynamics, social organisation and mating systems for the two marsupial species compared to the native murid rodent, due to their differing population structure and divergent inbreeding avoidance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Subthreshold depression has a considerable impact on the quality of life and carries a high risk of developing major depressive disorder. Psychological treatments for subthreshold depression may be able to reduce depressive symptomatology and prevent the onset of major depression. Method: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies examining the effects of psychological treatments for subthreshold depression. We examined the effects on depressive symptoms and the preventive effects on the incidence of major depression. Results: Seven high-quality studies with a total of 700 subjects were included. The mean effect size at post-test was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.23–0.60), with very low heterogeneity. The relative risk of developing a major depressive disorder in subjects who received the intervention was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.47–1.03; P = 0.07). Conclusion: Psychological treatments have significant effects on subthreshold depression. Furthermore, these interventions may prevent the onset of major depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although the clinical relevance of minor depression has been demonstrated in many studies, the economic costs are not well explored. In this study, we examine the economic costs of minor depression. Method: In a large-scale, population-based study in the Netherlands ( n = 5504) the costs of minor depression were compared with the costs of major depression and dysthymia. Excess costs, i.e. the costs of a disorder over and above the costs attributable to other illnesses, were estimated with help of regression analysis. The direct medical costs, the direct non-medical costs and the indirect non-medical costs were calculated. The year 2003 was used as the reference year. Results: The annual per capita excess costs of minor depression were US$ 2141 (95% CI = 753–3529) higher than the base rate costs of US$ 1023, while the costs of major depression were US$ 3313 (95% CI = 1234–5390) higher than the base rate. The costs of minor depression per 1 million inhabitants were 160 million dollars per year, which is somewhat less than the costs of major depression (192 million dollars per year). Conclusion: The economic costs associated with minor depression are considerable and approach those of major depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated fine-scale genetic structuring in the rare and vulnerable Mallorcan midwife toad Alytes muletensis using eight polymorphic microsatellite markers. The current range of this amphibian is restricted to some 19 sites of which six are derived from reintroductions, all located in the mountain ranges of Mallorca. We sampled tadpoles from 14 pools covering 10 natural sites and two reintroduction sites for microsatellite DNA analyses. Relatively high levels of genetic variation were found in most pools ( HE = 0.38–0.71, allelic richness = 2.6–6.2). Only at one pool has the population recently gone through a bottleneck. Dispersal between pools in different torrents does not occur whereas downstream dispersal between pools within the same torrent does happen at low frequencies. This occasional exchange of individuals does not lead to neighbouring pools in the same torrent being panmictic. This can be concluded because all FST values (0.12–0.53) differ significantly from zero and structure analyses identified neighbouring pools as separate populations. Furthermore, assignment and migration tests showed little exchange between neighbouring pools. If upstream locations or complete torrents go extinct, they are unlikely to be recolonized naturally. For conservation purposes, reintroductions of tadpoles to sites where local extinctions have occurred may therefore be advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) whether the improvement in depressive symptomatology in subjects participating in psychoeducational groups for minor depression in routine practice is comparable to the improvement realized in a randomized efficacy trial; and (2) whether the level of depressive symptoms of subjects who participated in this intervention is similar after treatment to the level of depressive symptoms of the general population. DESIGN: Participants (N = 187) of 20 psychoeducational groups in routine practice in the Netherlands were examined before and after the intervention using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies - Depression scale (CES-D). METHODS: The standardized improvement from pre- to post-test in subjects was compared to the improvement found in subjects participating in a randomized trial of the same intervention. Furthermore, we compared the post-test scores to the scores of the general population. RESULTS: The improvement of depressive symptoms in routine practice was of the same magnitude as the improvement in the randomized trial. However, a considerable proportion of the participants (54.5%) still scored above the cut-off score of the CES-D at post-test, and the mean CES-D score of the participants (M = 17.0; SD = 9.8) differed significantly (p < .01) from the mean score in the general population (M = 9.7; SD = 8.6). CONCLUSION: Psychoeducational intervention can be an important help for people with depressive symptoms. The improvement in terms of depressive symptoms in routine practice does not differ from the improvement found in a randomized trial. However, participants remained considerably more depressed than the general population and this intervention is, for many, not sufficient as a form of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuijpers P, Smit F, Willemse G. Predicting the onset of major depression disorder in subjects with subthreshold depression in primary care: a prospective study.Acta Psychiatr Scand 2004: 110: 1–6.© Blackwell Munksgaard 2004.That subjects with subthreshold depression have an increased probability of developing major depression has been confirmed by many studies. However, the factors which may predict the onset of major depression have yet to be fully examined.We examined the control group of a randomized trial in primary care patients with subthreshold depression (N = 109), of whom 20 had developed major depression 1 year later. Using the vulnerability-stress theory, we examined which factors predicted the onset of major depression.In both univariate and multivariate analyses, family history and chronic illnesses predicted the onset of major depression.It is possible to predict to a certain degree whether a subject with subthreshold depression will develop major depression within a year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuijpers P, Smit F. Subthreshold depression as a risk indicator for major depressive disorder: a systematic review of prospective studies. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2004: 109: 325–331. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2004. In order to examine whether the incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is increased in subjects with subthreshold depression, or sD (clinically relevant depressive symptoms, without meeting criteria for a full-blown MDD), we conducted a review of prospective studies examining the incidence of MDD in subjects with sD. A systematic literature search was conducted. For all studies, the relative risk of developing MDD was calculated, based on person-years. Twenty studies (23 comparisons) were found, based on community samples, general medical patients and high-risk subjects. Most comparisons showed that subjects with sD had a consistently larger chance of developing MDD. The studies differed considerably in the definition of sD, the recency (occurrence of the last sD) and the in-/exclusion of lifetime MDD. The incidence of MDD in subjects with sD is larger than in subjects without sD. Otherwise, the concept of sD is too broad to be used. In future studies, some consensus should be reached regarding the definition of sD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To study the role of cannabis use in the onset of symptoms and disorders in the schizophrenia spectrum. DESIGN: Review of five population-based, longitudinal studies on the relationship between cannabis use and problems ranging from the experience of psychotic symptoms to hospitalization with a confirmed diagnosis of schizophrenia. Several hypotheses are examined that may explain this relationship: (1) self-medication; (2) effects of other drugs; (3) confounding; (4) stronger effect in predisposed people, and (5) etiological hypothesis. FINDINGS: Hypotheses 1 and 2 can be dismissed; hypothesis 3 is still open to debate, and converging evidence is found for hypotheses 4 and 5-antecedent cannabis use appears to act as a risk factor in the onset of schizophrenia, especially in vulnerable people, but also in people without prior history. CONCLUSION: There is an intrinsic message here for public health, but how that message is to be translated into action is not immediately clear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Antechinus agilis is a small sexually size dimorphic marsupial with a brief annual mating period of 2–3 weeks. All males die after this period, and females give birth to up to 10 young. Mating is thought to be promiscuous, however, there is no field data to confirm this. Using microsatellites, we investigated paternity patterns over two seasons in a wild population. Male weight was significantly positively related to the number of females fertilized and with the number of offspring sired, in both years. Furthermore, selection gradients indicated selection for larger males. Both results suggest that size dimorphism in A. agilis can be explained by sexual selection for larger males. The proportion of offspring sired within litters, did not relate to male size. Therefore, larger males are more successful through higher mating access, not through their sperm outcompeting that of smaller males. As expected from their known ranging behaviour, the number of offspring within litters left unassigned to a father did not depend on the grid location of the mother. Female size did not differ between successful reproducing and unsuccessful females. However, females that weaned offspring had larger heads than females that did not wean offspring. Males did not ‘prefer’ mating with larger females, nor did assortative mating occur. From our results, the mating system of A. agilis is clearly promiscuous. Selection for larger males occurred in both years, even though in one year the operational sex ratio was highly female biased, suggesting that the potential reproductive rate is a better predictor of the direction of sexual selection in A. agilis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates heat transfer coefficients during condensation of zeotropic refrigerant mixtures. Thermodynamic properties at different mass fractions of HCFC-22/HCFC-142b mixtures; Effect of refrigerant mass fraction on the heat transfer coefficient; Methods used to predict heat transfer coefficients.

Describes a series of experiments conducted to determine the sectional and average heat transfer coefficients using the zeotropic refrigerant mixture R-22/R-142b. Description of the test facility; Mixture condensation in microfin, high-fin and twisted tape insert tubes; Correlation of heat transfer coefficients and pressure with mass fraction of R-142b.

We describe the patterns of paternity success from laboratory mating experiments conducted in Antechinus agilis , a small size dimorphic carnivorous marsupial (males are larger than females). A previous study found last-male sperm precedence in this species, but they were unable to sample complete litters, and did not take male size and relatedness into account. We tested whether last-male sperm precedence regardless of male size still holds for complete litters. We explored the relationship between male mating order, male size, timing of mating and relatedness on paternity success. Females were mated with two males of different size with either the large or the small male first, with 1 day rest between the matings. Matings continued for 6 h. In these controlled conditions male size did not have a strong effect on paternity success, but mating order did. Males mating second sired 69.5% of the offspring. Within first mated males, males that mated closer to ovulation sired more offspring. To a lesser degree, variation appeared also to be caused by differences in genetic compatibility of the female and the male, where high levels of allele-sharing resulted in lower paternity success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1985 a multidisciplinary team in the Sophia Children's University Hospital in Rotterdam provides diagnostic follow up and genetic counselling services for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) patients and their families. Parents of 68 affected children as well as 24 affected parents were interviewed. Of the affected children, 50% and 33% of the affected adults were treated for symptoms related to NF1 before a specific diagnosis was made. Although the disease is fully penetrant by the age of 5 years, 35% of the affected children had not been diagnosed by this age. Parents stated a preference for early diagnosis of NF1. Diagnosis of NF1 did not seem to be a reason to refrain from having children. The general attitude towards prenatal diagnosis was positive; however few parents would actually terminate an affected pregnancy.Conclusion Overall delay in diagnosis of NF1 is significant. Knowledge of symptoms should make an early diagnosis possible with beneficial effects for the patient and family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment using the 11(³He,rf)12C reaction was performed at iThemba LABS at an incident energy of 44 MeV and analyzed with a high energy-resolution magnetic spectrometer, to reinvestigate states in 12C published in 1971. The original investigation reported the existence of an 11.16 MeV state in 12C that displays a 2+ nature. In the present experiment, data were acquired at laboratory angles of 25°, 30°, and 35°, which is part of the center-of-mass (cm.) angle range in the original measurements where a clear signature of such a state was observed. These new low-background measurements revealed no evidence of the previously reported state at 11.16 MeV in 12C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Upon androgen-deprivation therapy, the disease may progress further to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) with a poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, which play crucial roles in gene regulation. The aim of our study is to find CRPC-associated miRNAs and to evaluate their functional role. Methods: In this study, 23 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 76 primary PCa, and 35 CRPC specimens were included. Total RNA extracted from tissue sections was used for miRNA profiling on the Affymetrix GSC 3000 platform. Subsequently, stem-loop RT-qPCR analysis was performed to validate the expression levels of selected miRNAs. PCa cell lines were transfected with miRNA mimics or inhibitors to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, cell migration and cell invasion. Results: In our profiling study, several miRNAs were found to be deregulated in CRPC compared to primary PCa tissue, of which miR-205 (− 4.5-fold; p = 0.0009), miR-92b (− 3.1 fold; p < 0.0001) were downregulated and miR-3195 (5.6-fold; p < 0.0001), miR-3687 (8.7-fold; p = 0.0006) and miR-4417 (5.0-fold; p = 0.0005) were most upregulated. While KLK3, miR-21 and miR-141 expression levels in androgen-treated VCaP and LNCaP cells were increased, the expression levels of miR-3687 and miR-4417 were reduced. None of the miRNAs were androgen-regulated in the AR-negative PC3 cell line. Overexpression of miR-3687 reduced cell migration and cell invasion, whilst miR-3195 enhanced cell migration. Conclusion: We have identified several novel deregulated miRNAs in CRPC tissue, including two microRNAs that are potentially involved in tumor invasion. Our data support the hypothesized involvement of miRNAs in PCa tumorigenesis and progression to CRPC. The applicability of these miRNAs as novel biomarkers for CRPC remains to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Worldwide, cardiovascular disease is associated with substantial economic challenges and profound morbidity and mortality. Considering the dearth of information on cardiovascular disease for the central region of South Africa, this study aimed to assess the profile of patients who were referred to an echocardiography laboratory at a tertiary institution. Method: A hospital-based, observational, descriptive study was conducted. Demographic, anthropometric, socio-economic, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected. Standard transthoracic echocardiograms were performed. Results: The study population had a mean age of 51.8 ± 17.38 years, was predominantly black (64%) with a slight female preponderance (55%). The majority of patients were from a low-socioeconomic background (H0 - H2; 91%). Two-thirds of the participants were hypertensive (64%) and 57% had a body mass index exceeding 25kg/m2. Sixty-three percent of referrals were for routine echocardiographic assessment. Abnormal echocardiographic findings were reported in 74% of patients. Diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy were detected in almost half of all patients (n=1 034; 41%), followed by cardiomyopathies and systolic dysfunction in about one-third (n=804; 32%). Conclusion: This is the first study describing the profile of patients referred for echocardiography in central South Africa. A high percentage of patients had underlying cardiac pathology, especially myocardial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric Early Warning Scores were developed to monitor clinical deterioration of children admitted to the hospital. Pediatric Early Warning Scores could also be useful in the Emergency Department to quickly identify critically ill patients so treatment can be started without delay. To determine if a newly designed, fast, and easy to use Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score can identify critically ill children in the Emergency Department. We conducted a retrospective observational study in the Emergency Department of an urban district hospital in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Patients < 16 years attending the Emergency Department with an internal medical problem were included. Immediate intensive care unit admission was used as a measure for critically ill children. During the study period 2980 children attended the Emergency Department, ten (0.4%) of them required immediate intensive care unit admission. The Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score can identify critically ill children in the general pediatric Emergency Department population (area under the ROC curve 0.82). A sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 85% show potential to rule out critical illness in children visiting the Emergency Department when these results are validated in a larger population. A model containing both the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score and the Manchester Triage System did not perform significantly better than the Manchester Triage System alone but did show a positive tendency in favor of the model containing the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score and Manchester Triage System, area under the ROC curve 0.89 [95% CI 0.77-1.00] versus area under the ROC curve 0.82 [95% CI 0.68-0.95].Conclusions: In this feasibility study, the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score could be a fast and easy to use tool to identify critically ill children in the general pediatric Emergency Department population. The effectiveness of the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score may be optimized if combined with triage systems such as the Manchester Triage System. A larger prospective study is needed to confirm our results. What is known: • Pediatric Early Warning Scores can identify children who are in need for immediate intensive care unit admission at the Emergency Department. • Pediatric Early Warning Scores can be time-consuming, contain subjective parameters or parameters which are difficult to obtain in a reliable and standardized method. What is new: • We introduce a simplified, manageable and smartly designed Pediatric Early Warning Score on a pocket card based on an existing and previously investigated Pediatric Early Warning Score. • In this feasibility study the diagnostic performance of the Modified Pediatric Early Warning Score to predict immediate intensive care unit admission in the Emergency Department is in line with the original Pediatric Early Warning Scores but has to be validated on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preventive interventions are developed for children of parents with mental and substance use disorders (COPMI), because these children have a higher risk of developing a psychological or behavioral disorder in the future. Mental health and substance use disorders contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. Although the exact number of parents with a mental illness is unclear, the subject of mentally ill parents is gaining attention. Moreover there is a lack of interventions for COPMI-children, as well of (cost-) effectiveness studies evaluating COPMI interventions. Innovative interventions such as e-health provide a new field for exploration. There is no knowledge about the opportunities for using the internet to prevent problems in children at risk. In the current study we will focus on the (cost-) effectiveness of an online health prevention program for COPMI-children.Methods/design: We designed a randomized controlled trial to examine the (cost-) effectiveness of the Kopstoring intervention. Kopstoring is an online intervention for COPMI-children to strengthen their coping skills and prevent behavioral and psychological problems. We will compare the Kopstoring intervention with (waiting list) care as usual. This trial will be conducted entirely over the internet. An economic evaluation, from a societal perspective will be conducted, to examine the trial's cost-effectiveness. Power calculations show that 214 participants are needed, aged 16-25. Possible participants will be recruited via media announcements and banners on the internet. After screening and completing informed consent procedures, participants will be randomized. The main outcome is internalizing and externalizing symptoms as measured by the Youth Self Report. For the economic evaluation, healthcare costs and costs outside the healthcare sector will be measured at the same time as the clinical measures, at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months. An extended measure for the intervention group will be provided at 12 months, to examine the long-term effects. In addition, a process evaluation will be conducted.Discussion: Recent developments, such as international conferences and policy discussions, show the pressing need to study the (cost-) effectiveness of interventions for vulnerable groups of children. This study will shed light on the (cost-) effectiveness of an online preventive intervention.Trial Registration: NTR1982. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is associated with a formidable disease burden and has substantial economic ramifications. Its burden can only be partially alleviated through treatment. To make a more substantial impact on population health, we need primary prevention to reduce the number of new cases, and we need to do a better job about preventing relapses and recurrences. In this symposium we will present the latest evidence that prevention is a viable option: it is effective and cost-effective when offered as CBT-based self-help (bibliotherapy), and as preventive cognitive therapy for relapses and recurrences. The last couple of years witnessed a new approach to improving population health when some of these preventive interventions became available as internet-based interventions. These on-line interventions can be well structured and conducted either as pure self-help or with support by a therapist. We assume that on-line interventions are acceptable, because people can access these interventions in the privacy of their homes, at times they find convenient, and at a pace that suits them best. We also expect that these interventions can be cost-effective, especially when offered as self-help. Finally, we expect that on-line interventions have great potential to reach many people. It is therefore interesting to outline some of these new strategies and present evidence of their (cost) effectiveness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Despite a growing understanding of the effectiveness of bereavement interventions and the groups that benefit most from them, we know little about the cost-effectiveness of bereavement interventions.Methods: We conducted a cost-utility analysis alongside a randomized clinical trial on a visiting service for older widowed individuals (n=110) versus care as usual (CAU; n=106). The visiting service is a selective bereavement intervention that offers social support to lonely widows and widowers by a trained volunteer. Participants were contacted 6-9 months post-loss. Eleven percent of all contacted persons responded and eight percent participated in the trial. The primary outcome measure was quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained (assessed with the EQ-5D), which is a generic measure of health status. Costs were calculated from a societal perspective excluding costs arising from productivity losses. Using the bootstrap method, we obtained the incremental cost utility ratio (ICUR), projected these on a cost-utility plane and presented as an acceptability curve.Results: Overall, the experimental group demonstrated slightly better results against slightly higher costs. Whether the visiting service is acceptable depends on the willingness to pay: at a willingness to pay equal to zero per QALY gained, the visiting service has a probability of 31% of being acceptable; beyond euro20,000, the visiting service has a probability of 70% of being more acceptable than CAU.Conclusion: Selective bereavement interventions like the visiting service will not produce large benefits from the health economic point of view, when targeted towards the entire population of all widowed individuals. We recommend that in depth analyses are conducted to identify who benefits most from this kind of interventions, and in what subgroups the incremental cost-utility is best. In the future bereavement interventions are then best directed to these groups.Trial Registration: Controlled trials ISRCTN17508307. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on effects of reminiscence and life review in people with late life depression. A systematic review along with meta-analysis was conducted for this purpose. Data sources such as PsycINFO and MEDLINE were used for the study. Eligible studies examined effects of reminiscence or life experience, reported sufficient pretest and post-test data, included a control or comparison group, and used a measure of depressive symptoms. Reminiscence and life review significantly improved depressive symptoms compared with control, but significant heterogeneity was detected. Reminiscence and life review were effective for elderly people, with similar effect sizes to well established drug and psychological treatments.

Presents images of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy on bone scintigraphy related to a mediastinal tumor of unknown origin. Imaging by FDG-PET.

Surfactants are versatile compounds used in our everyday lives. These compounds are constituents of, for example, cleaning agents, fuel additives, cosmetic products, medicines, and construction materials. It is essential to comprehend the surface and bulk flow properties of surfactants. The physicochemical properties of surfactants can be utilized to make well-informed decisions and to synthesize surfactants purposefully for specific applications. Physicochemical properties, including surface saturation concentration, critical micelle concentration, Krafft point and cloud point, can influence the effectiveness and efficiency of a surfactant. These properties can also be manipulated by altering conditions such as temperature and surfactant concentration. Knowledge of the functioning of surfactants in aqueous solutions can lead to improvements in various consumer goods. Furthermore, there is limited Afrikaans literature available concerning surfactants. Therefore, this review article serves as an Afrikaans introduction to the operation of surfactants in aqueous solutions and at an air-water interface. Since non-ionic surfactants are commonly found in commerce, the operation of surfactants is primarily explained with reference to these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundIt is well known that web-based interventions can be effective treatments for depression. However, dropout rates in web-based interventions are typically high, especially in self-guided web-based interventions. Rigorous empirical evidence regarding factors influencing dropout in self-guided web-based interventions is lacking due to small study sample sizes. In this paper we examined predictors of dropout in an individual patient data meta-analysis to gain a better understanding of who may benefit from these interventions.MethodA comprehensive literature search for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy for adults with depression from 2006 to January 2013 was conducted. Next, we approached authors to collect the primary data of the selected studies. Predictors of dropout, such as socio-demographic, clinical, and intervention characteristics were examined.ResultsData from 2705 participants across ten RCTs of self-guided web-based interventions for depression were analysed. The multivariate analysis indicated that male gender [relative risk (RR) 1.08], lower educational level (primary education, RR 1.26) and co-morbid anxiety symptoms (RR 1.18) significantly increased the risk of dropping out, while for every additional 4 years of age, the risk of dropping out significantly decreased (RR 0.94).ConclusionsDropout can be predicted by several variables and is not randomly distributed. This knowledge may inform tailoring of online self-help interventions to prevent dropout in identified groups at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neutron spectrometer based on a single EJ299-33 plastic scintillator (5~\cm diameter\times 5~\cm) is described. A digital implementation of pulse shape discrimination is used to separate events associated with neutrons from those associated with gamma-rays. Measurements made using a ns-pulsed neutron beam are used to produce response functions of the detector for neutrons over the energy range 10 – 100 MeV. These lineshapes are used to test the capability of the spectrometer to produce neutron energy spectra, via the unfolding of pulse height spectra, for use in neutron fields having any type of time structure. The results are compared with those from a similar spectrometer constructed from EJ301 liquid scintillator. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Meulenbeek P, Spinhoven P, Smit F, van Balkom A, Cuijpers P. Cognitive mediation of panic reduction during an early intervention for panic. Objective: This study investigated cognitive mediation of improvement in panic disorder (PD) symptomatology during and after an early intervention for panic symptoms in subthreshold and mild PD. Method: We executed a pragmatic, pre-post, two-group, multi-site, randomized trial of an early intervention for panic symptoms, based on cognitive-behavioural therapy, vs. a wait-list control group in a sample of 217 participants with subthreshold PD or mild PD. Results: First, two of the three subscales of the mediator variable Panic Appraisal Inventory (PAI-anticipation and PAI-coping) significantly mediated residual change in PD symptomatology on the PD Severity Scale-Self Report. Second, preintervention to postintervention PAI-anticipation and PAI-coping change scores significantly predicted postintervention to follow-up change in PD symptomatology after controlling for other change scores. However, the converse association was also significant. Conclusion: The results suggest that changes in cognitions may mediate changes in PD symptomatology and that the process of change is circular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Reliable prevalence estimates of family violence in adults and children are difficult to obtain. Most are based on surveys or registration counts, whose research designs and methods are often questionable, making the results difficult to compare. This article presents an alternative approach. METHODS: The capture-recapture method (CRC), which makes it possible to estimate unknown numbers in a partly hidden population, was applied to data from eight collaborating organizations in Haarlem, The Netherlands. RESULTS: Uniform data registration took place over a 7-month period. The 1-year prevalence rate for adult victims of family violence was estimated to be 2.0% of the adult population (95% CI: 1.3-3.1). For victims of child abuse, it was 1.5-2.5%, and for child witnesses of spouse-abuse, it was 1.2-2.1%, though small numbers made these results more uncertain. Only approximately 20% of all victims in the study were known to one or more of the participating organizations. Our results accorded quite well with results obtained by general health surveys in the Netherlands. CONCLUSIONS: CRC appears to be a valid and feasible research method for estimating the prevalence of family violence and child abuse. It can be used to complement other methods, especially in young children, in whom valid results are otherwise difficult to obtain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Recently, a Dutch educational broadcasting company developed a 6 week self-help course for insomnia, which consists of a book and television programmes. In this study we examined its effects. METHODS: 247 subjects with sleep problems were recruited through the media and randomized to the self-help treatment (n=126) or a waiting list control group (n=121). The intervention group received the book, and for 6 consecutive weeks a DVD or videotape. Subjects were assessed before and after the course. RESULTS: Both groups improved significantly with respect to sleep but there were no significant differences in improvements between the groups. However, the intervention group improved significantly more on secondary outcomes: the subjective evaluation of sleep quality (d=0.65), dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (d=0.62), depressive symptoms (d=0.35), and quality of life (d=0.34). CONCLUSION: Cognitive-behavioral self-help treatment does not necessarily lead to sleep improvements but it does improve coping with insomnia. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: About 2% of the Dutch adult population has watched the regular broadcastings of the course after the trial ended. This huge number of viewers underlines that there is a need for this type of low cost self-help treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A growing number of studies have tested the efficacy of preventive interventions in reducing the incidence of depressive disorders. Until now, no meta-analysis has integrated the results of these studies.Method: The authors conducted a meta-analysis. After a comprehensive literature search, 19 studies were identified that met inclusion criteria. The studies had to be randomized controlled studies in which the incidence of depressive disorders (based on diagnostic criteria) in an experimental group could be compared with that of a control group.Results: The mean incidence rate ratio was 0.78, indicating a reduction of the incidence of depressive disorders by 22% in experimental compared with control groups. Heterogeneity was low to moderate (I[2]=33%). The number needed to treat to prevent one case of depressive disorder was 22. Moderator analyses revealed no systematic differences between target populations or types of prevention (universal, selective, or indicated). The data included indications that prevention based on interpersonal psychotherapy may be more effective than prevention based on cognitive-behavioral therapy.Conclusions: Prevention of new cases of depressive disorders does seem to be possible. Prevention may become an important way, in addition to treatment, to reduce the enormous public health burden of depression in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Triple P Positive Parenting Program is a multilevel parenting program to prevent and offer treatment for severe behavioral, emotional, and developmental problems in children. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the effectiveness of Triple P Level 4 interventions in the management of behavioral problems in children by pooling the evidence from relevant literature that included Level 4 Triple P interventions. Level 4 intervention is indicated if the child has multiple behavior problems in a variety of settings and there are clear deficits in parenting skills. Results indicate that Level 4 of Triple P interventions reduced disruptive behaviors in children. These improvements were maintained well over time, with further improvements in long-term follow-up. These effects support the widespread adoption and implementation of Triple P that is taking place in an increasing number of countries in quite diverse cultural contexts around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]