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Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how and why personality tests are used in workplace training. This research paper is guided by three research questions that inquire about the role of external and internal stakeholders, the value of psychometric and practical considerations in test selection, and the purpose of personality test use in workplace training. Design/methodology/approach: This research paper uses multiple-case study analysis. Interviews, test reports, product flyers and email correspondence were collected and analyzed from publishers, associations, psychologists and human resource development (HRD) practitioners in Germany, the UK and The Netherlands between 2012 and 2016. Findings: Themes emerge around industry tensions among practitioners and professional associations, psychologists and non-psychologists. Ease of use is a more important factor than psychometrics in the decision-making process. Also, practitioners welcome publishers that offer free coaching support. In the process of using tests for development rather than assessment, re-labeling takes place when practitioners and publishers use positive terms for personality tests as tools for personal stocktaking and development. Research limitations/implications: Despite extensive data collection and analysis efforts, this study is limited by its focus on a relatively small number of country cases and stakeholders per case. Practical implications: By combining scientific evidence with practical application, stakeholders can take first steps toward more evidence-based HRD practice around personality testing in workplace training. Originality/value: Little academic literature exists on the use of personality testing in workplace training. Without a clear understanding of the use of personality testing outside personnel selection, the current practice of personality tests for developmental purposes could raise ethical concerns about the rights and responsibilities of test takers.

Objective: To perform a temporal and geographical validation of a prognostic model, considered of highest methodological quality in a recently published systematic review, for predicting survival in very preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The original model was developed in the UK and included gestational age, birthweight and gender. Design: External validation study in a population‐based cohort. Setting: Dutch neonatal wards. Population or sample: All admitted white, singleton infants born between 23+0 and 32+6 weeks of gestation between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019. Additionally, the model's performance was assessed in four populations of admitted infants born between 24+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation: white singletons, non‐white singletons, all singletons and all multiples. Methods: The original model was applied in all five validation sets. Model performance was assessed in terms of calibration and discrimination and, if indicated, it was updated. Main outcome measures: Calibration (calibration‐in‐the‐large and calibration slope) and discrimination (c statistic). Results: Out of 6092 infants, 5659 (92.9%) survived. The model showed good external validity as indicated by good discrimination (c statistic 0.82, 95% CI 0.79–0.84) and calibration (calibration‐in‐the‐large 0.003, calibration slope 0.92, 95% CI 0.84–1.00). The model also showed good external validity in the other singleton populations, but required a small intercept update in the multiples population. Conclusions: A high‐quality prognostic model predicting survival in very preterm infants had good external validity in an independent, nationwide cohort. The accurate performance of the model indicates that after impact assessment, implementation of the model in clinical practice in the neonatal intensive care unit could be considered. A high‐quality model predicting survival in very preterm infants is externally valid in an independent cohort. A high‐quality model predicting survival in very preterm infants is externally valid in an independent cohort. Linked article This article is commented on by EM McClure & RL Goldenberg pp. 539 in this issue. To view this minicommentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risks of cognitive dysfunction and brain abnormalities. The extent to which risk factor modification can mitigate these risks is unclear. We investigated the associations between incident dementia, cognitive performance, and brain abnormalities among individuals with type 2 diabetes, according to the number of risk factors on target, compared with control subjects without diabetes.Research Design and Methods: Prospective data were from UK Biobank of 87,856 individuals (n = 10,663 diabetes, n = 77,193 control subjects; baseline 2006-2010), with dementia follow-up until February 2018. Individuals with diabetes were categorized according to the number of seven selected risk factors within the guideline-recommended target range (nonsmoking; guideline-recommended levels of glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, BMI, albuminuria, physical activity, and diet). Outcomes were incident dementia, domain-specific cognitive performance, white matter hyperintensities, and total brain volume.Results: After a mean follow-up of 9.0 years, 147 individuals (1.4%) with diabetes and 412 control subjects (0.5%) had incident dementia. Among individuals with diabetes, excess dementia risk decreased stepwise for a higher number of risk factors on target. Compared with control subjects (incidence rate per 1,000 person-years 0.62 [95% CI 0.56; 0.68]), individuals with diabetes who had five to seven risk factors on target had no significant excess dementia risk (absolute rate difference per 1,000 person-years 0.20 [-0.11; 0.52]; hazard ratio 1.32 [0.89; 1.95]). Similarly, differences in processing speed, executive function, and brain volumes were progressively smaller for a higher number of risk factors on target. These results were replicated in the Maastricht Study.Conclusions: Among individuals with diabetes, excess dementia risk, lower cognitive performance, and brain abnormalities decreased stepwise for a higher number of risk factors on target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audiences' online information acquisition has raised questions about the nature of selective exposure in today's high-choice and fragmented news environment. To offer an overview of the relative contribution of several key drivers of selective exposure to political news, we assess the guiding influence of (1) confirmation bias, (2) source bias, and (3) negativity bias. The findings of an experiment in two countries (UK and US, N = 858), demonstrate that confirmation bias has the most profound effect on selective exposure into news on immigration and the privatization of health-care systems, in conjunction with comparable and significant effects of source and negativity biases. The studied moderating role of preexisting levels of involvement and skepticism provides additional insights into news selection mechanisms. We conclude that today's online media diets are guided by different biases, which may fragment audiences based on their news preferences and issue positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood pressure (BP) measurement is increasingly carried out through home or ambulatory monitoring, yet existing cardiovascular risk scores were developed for use with measurements obtained in clinics.Aim: To describe differences in cardiovascular risk estimates obtained using ambulatory or home BP measurements instead of clinic readings.Design and Setting: Secondary analysis of data from adults aged 25-84 years in the UK and the Netherlands without prior history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in two BP monitoring studies: the Blood Pressure in different Ethnic groups (BP-Eth) study and the Home versus Office blood pressure MEasurements: Reduction of Unnecessary treatment Study (HOMERUS).Method: The primary comparison was Framingham risk calculated using BP measured as in the Framingham study or daytime ambulatory BP measurements. Statistical significance was determined using non-parametric tests.Results: In 442 BP-Eth patients (mean age = 58 years, 50% female [n = 222]) the median absolute difference in 10-year Framingham cardiovascular risk calculated using BP measured as in the Framingham study or daytime ambulatory BP measurements was 1.84% (interquartile range [IQR] 0.65-3.63, P = 0.67). In 165 HOMERUS patients (mean age = 56 years, 46% female) the median absolute difference in 10-year risk for daytime ambulatory BP was 2.76% (IQR 1.19-6.39, P<0.001) and only 8 out of 165 (4.8%) of patients were reclassified.Conclusion: Estimates of cardiovascular risk are similar when calculated using BP measurements obtained as in the risk score derivation study or through ambulatory monitoring. Further research is required to determine if differences in estimated risk would meaningfully influence risk score accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence suggests that the consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods beneficially affects cardiovascular health; however, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of anthocyanin-rich foods are relatively unknown. Objective: We investigated the ADME of a 13C5-labeled anthocyanin in humans. Design: Eight male participants consumed 500 mg isotopically labeled cyanidin-3-glucoside (6,8,10,3',5'-13C5-C3G). Biological samples were collected over 48 h, and 13C and 13C-labeled metabolite concentrations were measured by using isotope-ratio mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results: The mean ± SE percentage of 13C recovered in urine, breath, and feces was 43.9 ± 25.9% (range: 15.1-99.3% across participants). The relative bioavailability was 12.38 ± 1.38% (5.37 ± 0.67% excreted in urine and 6.91 ± 1.59% in breath). Maximum rates of 13C elimination were achieved 30 min after ingestion (32.53 ± 14.24 µg 13C/h), whereas 13C-labeled metabolites peaked (maximum serum concentration: 5.97 ± 2.14 µmol/L) at 10.25 ± 4.14 h. The half-life for 13C-labeled metabolites ranged between 12.44 ± 4.22 and 51.62 - 22.55 h. 13C elimination was greatest between 0 and 1 h for urine (90.30 ± 15.28 µg/h), at 6 h for breath (132.87 ± 32.23 µg/h), and between 6 and 24 h for feces (557.28 ± 247.88 µg/h), whereas the highest concentrations of Relabeled metabolites were identified in urine (10.77 ± 4.52 µmol/L) and fecal samples (43.16 ± 18.00 µmol/L) collected between 6 and 24 h. Metabolites were identified as degradation products, phenolic, hippuric, phenylacetic, and phenylpropenoic acids. Conclusion: Anthocyanins are more bioavailable than previously perceived, and their metabolites are present in the circulation for ≤48 h after ingestion. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01106729. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In healthy participants, short-term flavan-3-ol and isoflavone intakes improve vascular function; however, the potential combined benefit of these compounds on atherosclerosis progression remains unclear for those at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective: The objective was to examine whether combined isoflavone and flavan-3-ol intake alters vascular function in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design: A double-blind, parallel-design, placebo-controlled l-y trial was conducied in postmenopausal T2DM patients randomly assigned to a split dose of 27 g flavonoid-enriched chocolate/d [850 mg flavan-3-ols (90 mg epicatechin) + 100 mg isoflavones (aglycone equivalents)/d] or matched placebo. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index, blood pressure (BP), and vascular biomarkers were assessed. Results: A total of 93 patients completed the trial. Overall, the flavonoid intervention did not significantly change CCA-IMT, augmentation index, or BP, but pulse pressure variability improved (flavonoid: -0.11 ±0.07 mm Hg/min; placebo: 0.10 ±0.11 mm Hg/min; P = 0.04). In a subgroup with PWV data, net improvements were observed [flavonoid (n = 18): -0.07 ± 0.38 m/s; placebo (n = 17): 0.68 ± 0.25 m/s; P - 0.01], which equated to a 10% CV risk reduction. Equol producers (n = 17) had larger reductions in diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and PWV (-2.24 ± 1.31 mm Hg, -1.24 ± 1.30 mm Hg, and -0.68 ± 0.40 m/s, respectively; P < 0.01) compared with non-equol producers (n = 30). Conclusions: Although the 1-y intervention did not change CCA-IMT or BP, clinically relevant improvements in arterial stiffness were observed; equol producers were particularly responsive. Flavo-noids may augment existing therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in postmenopausal T2DM patients, and longer studies are needed to examine the effects on atherosclerosis progression. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00677599. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation and pathogenicity of Phytophthora infestans isolates collected from organic potato crops of the susceptible cv. Bintje and the moderately resistant cv. Santé were assessed in France, Norway, and the United Kingdom in 2001 and in Switzerland in 2001 and 2002. Population structures differed considerably between the four P. infestans populations. Those from France, Switzerland and the UK were mainly clonal populations showing restricted levels of genetic diversity, whilst those from Norway were mixed A1 and A2 mating type populations with high levels of genetic diversity, suggesting periodical sexual reproduction. Isolates collected from cv. Bintje were on average more aggressive than or comparable to isolates from cv. Santé. Race complexity varied considerably between the regional P. infestans populations, with isolates from France and Switzerland showing the highest number of virulence factors. In all pathogen samples but the French, isolates collected from cv. Santé were more complex than isolates collected from cv. Bintje. No directional selection towards increased aggressiveness towards the more resistant cultivar Santé was observed. This suggests that there is no shift towards increased levels of pathogenicity in P. infestans populations following the large-scale introduction of more resistant potato varieties in organic production systems in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on the study concerning the bowel injury at tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) in Great Britain. The author infers that urodynamic stress incontinence is an important health concern affecting millions of women yearly, and is because to poor anatomical support of the urethra. According to the study, TVT for the treatment of urodynamic stress incontinence extends many advantages to the patient.

Background: Rimonabant treatment, examined in Phase 3 trials, showed improvement of cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients., Objective: The objective of this Phase 4 trial is to assess the effectiveness of rimonabant plus lifestyle counselling when used in daily practice, namely in the general practice. The hypothesis was that the effectiveness in Phase 4 would be smaller than the efficacy in Phase 3 due to different patient selection and treatment conditions. At the end of this trial, rimonabant was suspended of all markets due to psychiatric side effects., Methods: This trial randomly assigned 222 patients with enlarged waist circumferences and hyperglycaemia or diabetes mellitus type 2, recruited from Dutch general practices, to double-blinded therapy with either placebo or rimonabant (20 mg/day) for 1 year in addition to lifestyle counselling., Results: Compared with placebo, the rimonabant group showed significant improvements in body weight, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the main outcome waist circumference after 1 year. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk calculation showed no significant difference. The rimonabant group showed statistically deterioration, compared with the placebo group, in the quality of life in the EuroQol and two domains of the SF-36: role limitations due to physical health problems and bodily pain., Conclusions: The unique real life data of this Phase 4 trial showed that the effectiveness of rimonabant in daily practice is indeed lower than in controlled circumstances (Phase 3). Rimonabant treatment showed improvement of obesity and the HDL cholesterol, but had no positive effect on the other cardiovascular risk factors and the quality of life.