bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and Safety of Apixaban, Dabigatran, and Rivaroxaban Versus Warfarin in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation and Previous Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Coleman Craig I. , Peacock W. Frank , Bunz Thomas J. , Alberts Mark J.
Published: June 2017

Background and Purpose—

Limited real-world data exist comparing each non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) to warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who have had a previous ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Methods—

Using MarketScan claims from January 2012 to June 2015, we identified adults newly initiated on oral anticoagulation, with ≥2 diagnosis codes for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, a history of previous ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, and ≥180 days of continuous medical and prescription benefits before anticoagulation initiation. Three analyses were performed comparing 1:1 propensity score–matched cohorts of apixaban versus warfarin (n=2514), dabigatran versus warfarin (n=1962), and rivaroxaban versus warfarin (n=5208). Patients were followed until occurrence of a combined end point of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or major bleed, switch/discontinuation of index oral anticoagulation, insurance disenrollment, or end of follow-up. Mean follow-up was 0.5 to 0.6 years for all matched cohorts.

Results—

Using Cox regression, neither apixaban nor dabigatran reduced the combined primary end point of ischemic stroke or ICH (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33–1.48 and HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.26–1.07) and had nonsignificant effect on hazards of major bleeding (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.38–1.64 and HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.26–1.27) versus warfarin. Rivaroxaban reduced the combined end point of ischemic stroke or ICH (HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.29–0.72) without an effect on major bleeding (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.71–1.61). ICH occurred at rates of 0.16 to 0.61 events per 100 person-years in the 3 NOAC analyses, with no significant difference for any NOAC versus warfarin.

Conclusions—

Results from our study of the 3 NOACs versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with a previous history of stroke/transient ischemic attack are relatively consistent with their respective phase III trials and previous stroke/transient ischemic attack subgroup analyses. All NOACs seemed no worse than warfarin in respect to ischemic stroke, ICH, or major bleeding risk.
In-Patient Code Stroke
Authors: Kassardjian Charles D. , Willems Jacqueline D. , Skrabka Krystyna , Nisenbaum Rosane , Barnaby Judith , Kostyrko Pawel , Selchen Daniel , Saposnik Gustavo
Published: June 2017

Background and Purpose—

Stroke is a relatively common and challenging condition in hospitalized patients. Previous studies have shown delays in recognition and assessment of inpatient strokes leading to poor outcomes. The goal of this quality improvement initiative was to evaluate an in-hospital code stroke algorithm and educational program aimed at reducing the response times for inpatient stroke.

Methods—

An inpatient code stroke algorithm was developed, and an educational intervention was implemented over 5 months. Data were recorded and compared between the 36-month period before and the 15-month period after the intervention was implemented. Outcome measures included time from last seen normal to initial assessment and from last seen normal to brain imaging.

Results—

During the study period, there were 218 inpatient strokes (131 before the intervention and 87 after the intervention). Inpatient strokes were more common on cardiovascular wards (45% of cases) and occurred mainly during the perioperative period (60% of cases). After implementation of an inpatient code stroke intervention and educational initiative, there were consistent reductions in all timed outcome measures (median time to initial assessment fell from 600 [109–1460] to 160 [35–630] minutes and time to computed tomographic scan fell from 925 [213–1965] to 348.5 [128–1587] minutes).

Conclusions—

Our study reveals the efficacy of an inpatient code stroke algorithm and educational intervention directed at nurses and allied health personnel to optimize the prompt management of inpatient strokes. Prompt assessment may lead to faster stroke interventions, which are associated with better outcomes.
A Failed Spectacle: The Role of the Crowd in Luke 23
Authors: Whitaker Robyn J.
Published: June 2017

That Jesus’ death is uniquely portrayed as a spectacle of death in Luke’s Gospel is widely acknowledged. Most scholarship has focused on the figure of Jesus, his self-control and emotions, to debate how much it concurs with the ancient ideal of noble death. Little attention, however, has been given to the role of the crowd in Luke’s passion. This paper analyzes the role of the crowd in Luke’s passion to argue that Luke has framed the cross in a manner fitting of death in the arena. By emphasizing the crowd’s size, placement, and role in the drama, I argue that Luke presents Jesus’ death as a failed spectacle and suggest some political and theological ramifications.
The Rise of Pre-posed Adnominal Genitive Constructions in Russian and Polish
Authors: Houle Erik
Published: June 2017

Innovations in the way possession is conveyed linguistically can be observed over the development of both Russian and Polish through the centuries. The non-prescriptive Pre-Posed Adnominal Genitive Constructions in the modern languages demonstrate how languages change in a similar direction but with different results. In Old Russian the more limited innovation is primarily the result of syntactic constraints in a more conservative, but ever-changing, language. Examples from Old Polish demonstrate a system deep in flux.
Multisensory Integration in Migraine: Recent Developments
Authors: O’Hare Louise
Published: June 2017

There are well-documented unimodal sensory differences in migraine compared to control groups both during, and between migraine attacks. There is also some evidence of multisensory integration differences in migraine groups compared to control groups, however the literature on this topic is more limited. There are interesting avenues in the area of visual–vestibular integration, which might have practical implications, e.g., motion sickness and nausea in migraine. Recent work has been investigating the possibility of visual–auditory integration in migraine, and found possible differences in the susceptibility to the sound-induced flash illusion in particular, which could give insights into relative excitability of different areas of the cortex, and also into mechanisms for the illusions themselves. This review updates the most recent literature and also highlights potentially fruitful areas of research to understand one of the most common neurological disorders.
Seeing the Way: the Role of Vision in Conversation Turn Exchange Perception
Authors: Latif Nida , Alsius Agnès , Munhall K. G.
Published: June 2017

During conversations, we engage in turn-taking behaviour that proceeds back and forth effortlessly as we communicate. In any given day, we participate in numerous face-to-face interactions that contain social cues from our partner and we interpret these cues to rapidly identify whether it is appropriate to speak. Although the benefit provided by visual cues has been well established in several areas of communication, the use of visual information to make turn-taking decisions during conversation is unclear. Here we conducted two experiments to investigate the role of visual information in identifying conversational turn exchanges. We presented clips containing single utterances spoken by single individuals engaged in a natural conversation with another. These utterances were from either right before a turn exchange (i.e., when the current talker would finish and the other would begin) or were utterances where the same talker would continue speaking. In Experiment 1, participants were presented audiovisual, auditory-only and visual-only versions of our stimuli and identified whether a turn exchange would occur or not. We demonstrated that although participants could identify turn exchanges with unimodal information alone, they performed best in the audiovisual modality. In Experiment 2, we presented participants audiovisual turn exchanges where the talker, the listener or both were visible. We showed that participants suffered a cost at identifying turns exchanges when visual cues from the listener were not available. Overall, we demonstrate that although auditory information is sufficient for successful conversation, visual information plays an important role in the overall efficiency of communication.
Multisensory Congruency Enhances Explicit Awareness in a Sequence Learning Task
Authors: Silva Andrew E. , Barakat Brandon K. , Jimenez Luis O. , Shams Ladan
Published: June 2017

We examined the effect of audiovisual training on learning a repeated sequence of motor responses. Participants were trained with either congruent or incongruent audiovisual cues to produce motor responses. Learning was tested by comparing reaction times to untrained sequences and by asking participants to recreate the trained sequence. A strong association was found between the two measures and the majority of high-scoring participants belonged to the congruent audiovisual condition. Because the second measure requires explicit knowledge of the trained sequence, we conclude that audiovisual congruency facilitates explicit learning.
Sabellid worms from the Patagonian Shelf and Humboldt Current System (Annelida, Sabellidae): Phyllis Knight-Jones’ and José María Orensanz’s collections
Authors: TOVAR-HERNÁNDEZ MARÍA ANA , DE LEÓN-GONZÁLEZ JESÚS ÁNGEL , BYBEE DAVID R.
Published: June 2017

The South American sabellid polychaete worm collections of Phyllis Knight-Jones and José María Orensanz were recovered, curated and specimens identified, comprising fourteen species grouped in nine genera. Five species belonging to the genera Chone Krøyer, 1856, Acromegalomma Gil and Nishi, 2017, Notaulax Tauber, 1879, Parasabella Bush, 1905, and Pseudopotamilla Bush, 1905, are described as new to science from the Patagonian Shelf (Argentina). Jasmineira crumenifera Hartmann-Schröder, 1986, Myxicola sulcata Ehlers, 1912, Parasabella columbi (Kinberg, 1867), Perkinsiana antarctica (Kinberg, 1867) and Perkinsiana assimilis (McIntosh, 1885) are redescribed and reported from several Patagonian localities. Three new combinations are made: Sabella tilosaula Schmarda, 1861, is transferred to Notaulax, Sabella magalhaensis Kinberg, 1867, to Perkinsiana Knight-Jones, 1983, and Potamilla platensis Hartman, 1953, to Pseudopotamilla. Potamethus littoralis Hartman, 1967, was synonymized with Perkinsiana magalhaensis. Notaulax tilosaula, Perkinsiana antarctica and P. magalhaensis are reported from the biogeographical subregion Humboldt Current System, whereas Bispira sp., Chone orensanzi sp. nov., Jasmineira crumenifera, Acromegalomma schwindtae sp. nov., M. sulcata, Notaulax salazari sp. nov., Parasabella columbi, P. yonowae sp. nov., Perkinsiana assimilis, Pseudopotamilla platensis, and P. knightjonesae sp. nov., are reported from the Patagonian Shelf.
Northern Hemisphere Jet Stream Position Indices as Diagnostic Tools for Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics
Authors: Belmecheri Soumaya , Babst Flurin , Hudson Amy R. , Betancourt Julio , Trouet Valerie
Published: June 2017

The latitudinal position of the Northern Hemisphere jet stream (NHJ) modulates the occurrence and frequency of extreme weather events. Precipitation anomalies in particular are associated with NHJ variability; the resulting floods and droughts can have considerable societal and economic impacts. This study develops a new climatology of the 300-hPa NHJ using a bottom-up approach based on seasonally explicit latitudinal NHJ positions. Four seasons with coherent NHJ patterns were identified (January–February, April–May, July–August, and October–November), along with 32 longitudinal sectors where the seasonal NHJ shows strong spatial coherence. These 32 longitudinal sectors were then used as NHJ position indices to examine the influence of seasonal NHJ position on the geographical distribution of NH precipitation and temperature variability and their link to atmospheric circulation pattern. The analyses show that the NHJ indices are related to broad-scale patterns in temperature and precipitation variability, in terrestrial vegetation productivity and spring phenology, and can be used as diagnostic/prognostic tools to link ecosystem and socioeconomic dynamics to upper-level atmospheric patterns.
Making Complexity Your Friend: Reframing Social Theory for the Anthropocene
Authors: Smith-Nonini Sandy
Published: June 2017

This article uses the dilemma of climate change as an entry point to explore the utility of a complexity framework for a more comprehensive social science of environmental sustainability. A theory of complex adaptive systems (CAS) is especially appropriate for the Anthropocene, a newly proposed geological period defined around humanity’s impact on the biosphere. Aspects of complexity theory have been entering public consciousness through popular accounts of climate “tipping points” and “emergent” change—the risk that Earth’s climate could shift into a new pattern in a relatively short time period. Social structures, including capitalism, are complex systems, as are social movements. The paper reviews CAS research with special attention to applications in social ecology. It discusses two case studies of exemplary research on human management of environmental resources and one case study of the antiglobalization movement, all conceived within a complexity framework. The central argument is that complexity thinking will enhance social studies of sustainability and efforts to create a more resilient economy and biosphere.
Newborn screening for sickle cell disorders using tandem mass spectrometry: three years’ experience of using a protocol to detect only the disease states
Authors: Moat Stuart J , Rees Derek , George Roanna S , King Lawrence , Dodd Alan , Ifederu Adeboye , Ramgoolam Tejswurree , Hillier Sharon
Published: June 2017

Background

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has recently become an alternative method for the newborn screening of sickle cell disorders (SCD), as it is able to detect haemoglobin (Hb) peptides following digestion of bloodspots with trypsin. Using the SpOtOn Diagnostics Reagent Kit, we previously developed a screening protocol to detect only the disease states of SCD, using action values based on the ratio between the variant Hb peptide to wild-type peptide abundances for the HbS, C, DPunjab, OArab, E and Lepore peptides.

Methods

Action values using the ratios between the wild type HbA (ßT1-3) peptides and the foetal Hb (γT2) peptide were developed to identify bloodspot samples from premature and transfused infants. An evaluation was undertaken to assess the transferability of the action values onto an additional MS/MS instrument. We report here our experience using this MS/MS protocol.

Results

During a three-year period, we screened 100,456 babies and identified 10 SCD cases (1 HbS/HPFH, 5 HbS/S and 4 HbS/C) and a case of HbE/ß-thalassaemia that was identified as a by-product. The Hb variant to wild-type peptide ratio action values were transferable to a second MS/MS instrument. Our protocol prevented the identification of an estimated 810 carrier infants. Gestational age-related action values for HbA to HbF peptide ratios were required to minimize the number of samples referred for second-line testing to exclude ß-thalassaemia.

Conclusion

MS/MS is a robust alternative screening technology for SCD; in addition, it also optimizes the use of equipment and expertise that currently exist in newborn screening laboratories.
Bone turnover marker determinants in young women: results from the Safe-D study
Authors: Callegari Emma T , Garland Suzanne M , Gorelik Alexandra , Chiang Cherie Y , Wark John D
Published: June 2017

Background

Bone turnover markers (BTMs) may provide insight into bone health in young women, but have been little studied in this demographic. We aimed to explore the association between body composition, hormonal contraception, bone mineral density and biochemical parameters and BTMs in young women.

Methods

Participants were community-dwelling females aged 16–25 years, living in Victoria, Australia. Carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) and total procollagen type 1 N-propeptide (P1NP) were analysed on the Roche Elecsys automated analyzer. A total of 305 were evaluated, after excluding participants with medical conditions or medications (except hormonal contraceptives), which may affect bone metabolism.

Results

Median (Q1, Q3) BTM values were 540 (410, 690) ng/L for CTX and 61.7 (46.2, 83.7) µg/L for P1NP. Serum CTX and P1NP were inversely associated with chronological age ( P < 0.001), transferrin ( P < 0.020) and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate concentration ( P < 0.001). BTM values were up to 22% lower in combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill users ( P < 0.001). Serum CTX was inversely associated with per cent body fat ( P = 0.009) and tibial cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD; P = 0.003). Serum P1NP concentrations were 23  µg/L higher in participants who reported using an osteopath in the previous year ( P = 0.007).

Conclusions

These data suggest that BTMs are influenced by age, COC use, body composition, iron status and hormonal profiles. Higher CTX values were associated with lower tibial cortical vBMD. Examining BTMs in relation to interventions aimed at improving bone health in young women is warranted.
Simultaneous optimization of fixture and cutting parameters of thin-walled workpieces based on particle swarm optimization algorithm
Authors: Wang Shasha , Jia Zhenyuan , Lu Xiaohong , Zhang Haixing , Zhang Chi , Liang Steven Y
Published: June 2017

The elastic deformation of thin-walled workpieces is because of the combination effect of cutting force and clamping force, which also leads to processing error. Clamping force and cutting force have coupling effect during this process. Clamping force and cutting force are mainly influenced by fixture, and cutting parameters, respectively. Instead of considering coupling effect of clamping force and cutting force when optimizing fixture and cutting parameters step by step, this paper establishes a recursive optimizing model through particle swarm optimization (PSO) and finite element (FE) methods to optimize fixture and cutting parameters simultaneously. With the guidance of PSO under certain deformation conditions, FE analysis finds optimal combinations of fixture and cutting parameters, which reduce elastic deformation of thin-walled workpieces. The case study shows that the model had achieved optimization results. It effectively reduced elastic deformation of thin-walled workpieces during processing and improved the machining accuracy.
Pragmatics of explanation: Creative accountability in the care of ‘medically unexplained symptoms’
Authors: Greco Monica
Published: June 2017

This article describes an emergent reconfiguration of the problem of somatization in contemporary research and practice around ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ among UK-based primary care researchers with a special interest in these conditions. Based on an analysis of clinical research literature and on participant observation in the early stages of a clinical research project, the article explores recent accounts of the role of medicine and doctors in the co-production of somatization, and contemporary efforts to address this iatrogenic dimension by developing and testing clinically effective explanations. In this reconfigured discursive space, the problem of explanation is recast not in terms of the need for a representational, objective truth on the basis of which treatment of one kind or another should follow, but rather in terms of a pragmatic wager whose truth lies in the quality of its clinical effects. In this sense, these explanatory strategies can be characterized as a form of ‘speculative pragmatism’ and may be said to instantiate a form of ‘creative accountability’. The concluding section of the article contrasts this form of pragmatism with the ‘cash-value’ pragmatism implicit in explanatory strategies evident among participants of self-help groups for contested illnesses, particularly in the US. This contrast highlights the constraints that different healthcare systems – or policy environments, broadly conceived – impose on citizens’ ability to re-imagine themselves in ways that might facilitate their potential for growth, transformation and self-care.
Sámi salmon, state salmon: TEK, technoscience and care
Authors: Joks Solveig , Law John
Published: June 2017

How to think about salmon in the Deatnu River in northern Norway? Sámi local ecological experts and biological modellers respond to this question in quite different ways. Local people are embedded in complex and situated webs of relations which include people, salmon, different kinds of fishing, forms of salmon unknown to biology, the state of the river and its flow, and the activities of tourists. For the biologists salmon are known as populations, spawning escapements, stock-specific spawning targets and production potentials. The biologists argue that salmon populations are in decline, and seek fishing restrictions. Since they are close to state regulatory authorities their recommendations lead to policies which reduce fishing and seriously erode Sámi practices and ways of living. This article explores this difference and the controversies to which it leads by situating these historically in the long-term extension of colonial state power and the subordination of Sámi people. Then this difference is explored in terms of care. Arguably both scientists and local ecological experts care for salmon, but how they care and what they care for are also very different. So the biologists divide nature from culture as they care for salmon populations. Despite the fact that they are required to relate to traditional ecological knowledge, in practice population biology does not care for local people in ways recognisable to Sámi. In contrast, Sámi modes of caring simultaneously respond to salmon, to the river and to Sámi economic and cultural practices, but not to population projections. The study uses the STS focus on practice and Helen Verran’s attention to ‘going on well together in difference’ to explore how this power-saturated intersection between these two realities might be rendered more productive. It is argued that scientific ways of thinking need to be ‘softened’ while Sámi ways of knowing might be ‘hardened’ and made more transportable.
‘Floods’ of migrants, flows of care: Between climate displacement and global care chains
Authors: Clark Nigel , Bettini Giovanni
Published: June 2017

This article explores the growing interface between climate-induced mobilities and participation in ‘global care chains’ under conditions in which climate change is already impacting on lives and livelihoods – especially in the Global South. The authors reconsider discourses on ‘climate migration’ in the light of everyday caring practices and adaptive responses to climate stress, evaluating how climate policy interferes with ‘grassroots’ flows of care. Early engagements tended towards alarmist predictions of mass climate-induced displacement, triggering proposals to ‘secure’ potential host nations against anticipated influxes. Recently, apparently more sober approaches have emerged, promoting labour migration as contributing positively to climate ‘resilience’. These new approaches encourage more able and resourceful people from under-resourced, climate-vulnerable regions to join trans-local or transnational labour markets – which often equates with predominantly female care workers entering global care chains. Effectively, this means that those best equipped to provide care in places where it is most urgently needed end up providing care in relatively privileged, less climate-vulnerable places. Questioning the climate justice implications of this mobilization against the gradient of vulnerability, the authors offer suggestions about how climate policy could actually support caring practices in the places where ordinary people struggle at the sharp edge of climate change.
Coercive Inclusion in the Mexican War on Drugs: A Field Study of Human Rights and the State in Michoacán
Authors: Wolfesberger Philipp
Published: June 2017

Qualitative ethnographic study of the human rights violations committed in the course of the militarized combat against drug trafficking organizations in rural Michoacán unmasks state practices of coercive inclusion. The violation of human rights and the subsequent processing of human rights claims paradoxically bind the marginalized population to the formal state and foster its subordination. The practical configuration of the current arena of human rights is not the lever for a democratic, inclusive Mexico but a curtain that conceals the repressive practices that it makes possible. In the processing of human rights complaints, the legal rights of physical integrity and private property become moral rights with no effect of legal justice.

Un estudio etnográfico cualitativo sobre las violaciones a los derechos humanos cometidas durante la lucha militarizada contra las organizaciones de tráfico de drogas en el Michoacán rural sirve para desenmascarar las prácticas de inclusión coercitiva del Estado. Las violaciones y el posterior procesamiento de las denuncias paradójicamente vinculan a la población marginada con el Estado oficial, fomentando su subordinación. La configuración práctica del actual contexto de los derechos humanos no funge como la palanca de un México democrático e inclusivo, sino como una cortina que oculta las prácticas represivas que el Estado hace posibles. En la tramitación de las denuncias sobre violación de derechos humanos, los derechos legales de la integridad física y la propiedad privada se convierten en derechos morales sin ningún efecto de justicia legal.
Comprehension of paraquat adsorption on faujasite zeolite X and Y in sodium form
Authors: Rongchapo Wina , Keawkumay Chalermpan , Osakoo Nattawut , Deekamwong Krittanun , Chanlek Narong , Prayoonpokarach Sanchai , Wittayakun Jatuporn
Published: June 2017

The nature of paraquat adsorption is compared between zeolite NaX and NaY which have the same faujasite structure but different Si/Al ratio, namely 1.2 and 2.2, respectively. The adsorption was proposed to occur via ion exchange and expected to increase with Al content. However, NaX had a lower paraquat adsorption capacity than NaY. The bare and paraquat-containing zeolites (PQX and PQY) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS) NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of adsorbed paraquat was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Paraquat adsorbed in supercages of the zeolites resulting in a decrease of surface area and displacement of sodium cations. Results from 23Na MAS NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that interaction of sodium ions in the cavity of NaX was stronger than that in NaY, making it less exchangeable with paraquat.
Racialised Futures: On Risk, Race and Finance
Authors: Dannreuther Charles , Kessler Oliver
Published: June 2017

This article explores the relationship between race and finance. By looking closer at risk, this article seeks to contribute to the literature in three ways: First, the concepts of risk and uncertainty need to be understood from a post-colonial perspective. Second, through a post-colonial reading of risk, we seek to develop a different concept of risk itself which emphasises its three qualities of de-humanisation, de-socialisation, and de-territorialisation. Last but not least, we propose to understand the post-colonial critique not only as a reconstruction of Europe’s past, as Dipesh Chakrabarty has named it, but locate it at the intersection of the present and the future: The post-colonial critique is enacted as soon as Europe’s future is imagined through risk.
Europe’s unknown war
Authors: Webber Frances
Published: June 2017

The EU’s response to the global ‘refugee crisis’ has involved the returning of refugees to war zones, for example in Afghanistan, in breach of human rights conventions. But it has also been so determined to stop further asylum seekers reaching European waters or shores that it has entered into the most dubious of agreements with countries outside the EU. Using bribery (aid, promises of investment, even the prospect of membership of the EU) and blackmail (threats of withdrawal of support for educational and health programmes), the EU has inveigled and browbeaten countries around the Mediterranean and as far afield as sub-Saharan Africa, to undertake immigration controls on its behalf. This has involved the EU in agreements with repressive regimes such as Turkey, Sudan and Eritrea, designed to block the movements of millions of people in the Middle East and Africa necessitated by war, famine, climate change and religious conflict. The outsourcing of migration policy to countries run by known dictators and war criminals has come at the expense of Europe’s humanitarian tradition, argues the author, who looks at the implications of policy by country and region.
From plantation to proletariat: Raizals in San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina
Authors: Londoño Wilhelm , González Pablo Alonso
Published: June 2017

The authors examine the implications of both a recent international ruling at The Hague curtailing fishing rights and the encroaching Colombian-based tourist industry for Raizals – descendants of African slaves brought by the British to the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in the Caribbean Sea. There they developed an autonomous way of life, in a subsistence economy based on fishing after the British abandoned the islands. While nominally under the control of the Spanish empire and afterwards the Colombian state, Raizals differ in many ways from the dominant Spanish-speaking, Creole and Catholic mainland population – being English-speaking, Afro and Protestant. Until the mid-twentieth century, they enjoyed substantial autonomy, now undermined by the Colombian nation-building project and a judgment of the international court at The Hague giving nearby Nicaragua rights over the waters of the Colombian islands, consequently precluding Raizals from accessing their traditional fishing resources. As a result, the islanders, with their culture recast as ‘heritage’, have become proletarians subordinated to tourist industries owned by mainland Colombians.
Successful Return to Sport After Arthroscopic Shoulder Stabilization Versus Nonoperative Management in Contact Athletes With Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Dickens Jonathan F. , Rue John-Paul , Cameron Kenneth L. , Tokish John M. , Peck Karen Y. , Allred C. Dain , Svoboda Steven J. , Sullivan Robert , Kilcoyne Kelly G. , Owens Brett D.
Published: June 2017

Background:

The debate continues regarding the optimal treatment of intercollegiate contact athletes with in-season anterior shoulder instability.

Purpose:

To examine return to sport and recurrent instability in the season after the index in-season anterior instability event.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Forty-five contact intercollegiate athletes treated nonoperatively or with arthroscopic stabilization were prospectively followed in a multicenter observational study to evaluate return to play (RTP) and recurrent instability in the season after an initial in-season anterior glenohumeral instability event. Baseline data collection included sport played, previous instability events, direction of instability, type of instability (subluxation or dislocation), and treatment method (nonoperative management or arthroscopic stabilization). All nonoperatively treated athletes underwent a standardized accelerated rehabilitation program without shoulder immobilization. Surgical stabilization was performed arthroscopically in all cases, and successful RTP was evaluated during the next competitive season after complete rehabilitation.

Results:

Thirty-nine of 45 intercollegiate contact athletes had remaining National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility and were followed through the subsequent competitive season after the index instability event. Of the 10 athletes electing nonoperative treatment, 4 (40%) successfully returned to play without recurrence during the subsequent season. Of the 29 athletes treated surgically, 26 (90%) were able to successfully return to play without recurrence the following season (recurrence: n = 1; inadequate function: n = 2). Athletes who underwent surgical reconstruction before the next season were 5.8 times (95% CI, 1.77-18.97; P = .004) more likely to complete the subsequent season without recurrent instability. Of the 29 athletes electing surgical stabilization, there was no difference (risk ratio, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.10-9.24; P > .99) in RTP between the 9 stabilized after a single instability event (90% RTP rate) and the 20 stabilized after multiple in-season recurrent instability events (89% RTP rate).

Conclusion:

Collegiate contact and collision athletes with in-season anterior shoulder instability are significantly more likely to successfully return to sport without subsequent instability events the next season if they undergo surgical repair in the off-season.
A joint overdispersed marginalized random-effects model for analyzing two or more longitudinal ordinal responses
Authors: Vahabi Nasim , Kazemnejad Anoshirvan , Datta Somnath
Published: June 2017

Disease severity is a latent concept which should be observed using a measurement tool; it can be useful in assessing disease status both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Medsger scale is a valid instrument for assessing the systemic sclerosis severity in which the items are categorized from 0 (normal) to 4 (endstage) for each organ system. We simultaneously analyzed two of the Medsger scale items, namely, general system and skin system as two correlated ordinal responses using an overdispersed marginalized random-effects model for longitudinal ordinal data exhibiting an overdispersion pattern. In general, a random-effects approach is implemented to account for the correlation between these two stochastic processes and to make simultaneous inference; our model also accounts for temporal correlations amongst observations taken on the same subject. Another important aspect of our model is its capacity to handle data overdispersion in order to make reliable inference. Last but not least, it is proved that certain parameters in our joint model have marginal interpretations. We investigate the statistical properties of our estimators through extensive simulation study. Finally, the methodology is applied to a data of systemic sclerosis patients.
Multi-sectoral Analysis of Foreign Investment and Trade Liberalization in India: A CGE Modelling Approach
Authors: Ganguly Amrita , Das Koushik
Published: June 2017

India’s growth story has attracted worldwide attention, particularly because this growth has been fuelled by the wide-ranging economic reforms introduced since early 1990s. A distinctive feature of Indian liberalization was the gradual and calibrated manner in which the reforms were introduced in the various sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and services. This article is a modest attempt to capture the role played by trade liberalization and foreign direct investment (FDI) policies in growth and development of different sectors in India. We applied computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling as our relevant methodology following Das and Chakraborti (doi:10.1007/s40622-013-0003-3), 2013. The article constructs a social accounting matrix (SAM) and attempts to analyze the impacts of reduced import tariff and increased FDI on export–import volumes of different sectors and on exchange rate, GDP, rural and urban income levels and government income under perfect competition market structure. The study reveals that reduction in import tariff increases imports leading to a depreciation of home currency and boosting exports. On the other hand, increase in FDI appreciates exchange rate, making import cheaper and so import increases in all sectors. Export becomes less profitable leading to a reduction in sectoral export.
Parliamentary Elections and Frontier Stock Markets: Evidence from Stock Market Reaction to General Elections in the Commonwealth Caribbean
Authors: Robinson C. Justin , Bangwayo-Skeete Prosper
Published: June 2017

This study is the first to investigate stock price reaction to parliamentary elections in the Commonwealth Caribbean. The study finds that parliamentary elections have a statistically significant effect on stock prices in the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, but no effect in the Eastern Caribbean and Guyana. The evidence suggests that equity investors in the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have an opinion on the prospects for their investments under different political administrations and these opinions are expressed through the trading of shares around the election cycle. However, the results do not provide support for the notion of an ‘election cycle pattern’, that is, a general increase in stock prices around the election cycle, and except in the case of Jamaica, where the stock market appears to disapprove of the People’s National Party (PNP), the results do not provide support for a ‘political party pattern’, that is, a preference among equity investors for a particular political party across the different countries.
Pyruvate kinase M2 interacts with mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 and inhibits tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Ji Feihu , Guo Bianqin , Wang Nian , Zhong Changli , Huang Liyuan , Huang Yunxiu , Wei Lan , Su Min , Jiang Yulin , Jin Qianni , Liu Yifeng , Zhang Zhiqian , Yang Junhong , Chen Tingmei
Published: June 2017

Tamoxifen has been reported to be associated with antagonism of estrogen-mediated cell growth signaling and activation of estrogen receptor–independent apoptosis events. It has been demonstrated that mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 is a direct target of Caspases to amplify the apoptotic signaling pathway. Here, we presented that breast cancer MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells under treatment with 4-hydroxytamoxifen displayed decreased level of pyruvate kinase M2. Western blot results also showed that 4-hydroxytamoxifen induced the activity of pro-apoptotic protein Caspase-3 in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells, as evidenced by the cleavage of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 substrate in a dose-dependent manner. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments were performed to clarify the relationship between pyruvate kinase M2 and mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1. The results indicated that mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 was associated with pyruvate kinase M2 in cultured mammalian cells, and the interaction between mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 and pyruvate kinase M2 was decreased in response to 4-hydroxytamoxifen treatment. In addition, knockdown of pyruvate kinase M2 upregulated the level of cleaved Caspase-3 and subsequently facilitated the nuclear translocation of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1. Our data further supplemented the extensive functions of pyruvate kinase M2 in mediating breast cancer cell viability by substantially abating the mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1–mediated apoptosis. In summary, our results identified that mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 is a novel downstream target of pyruvate kinase M2, and knockdown of pyruvate kinase M2 contributes apoptosis via promoting nuclear translocation of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 by enhancing Caspase-3-dependent cleavage.
The Going Out In Sydney App: Evaluating the Utility of a Smartphone App for Monitoring Real-World Illicit Drug Use and Police Encounters Among Festival and Club Goers
Authors: Hughes Caitlin Elizabeth , Moxham-Hall Vivienne Louisa
Published: June 2017

Gaining accurate information on illicit drug use and policing in real-world settings is a challenge. This study examines the utility of a smartphone app (‘Going Out In Sydney’) to prospectively follow up illicit drug use and policing encounters at music festivals and licensed entertainment precincts in Sydney, Australia. In all, 38 regular festival and licensed entertainment venue attendees used the app to log nights out over a 3-month period, including (1) where they went (eg, festival, nightclub), (2) the prevalence of illicit drug use, and (3) the incidence and nature of police encounters. A survey and interview were then conducted about the utility of the app. The app enabled rich data collection (n = 353 entries) about illicit drug use and policing at both target settings. Follow-up surveys indicated that most participants were extremely satisfied with the ease of use of the app and privacy afforded, and compared with other data collection modes, such as paper-based logs and online surveys, rated the app the most desirable method of data collection. This suggests smartphone apps may be a viable option for future studies on illicit drug use and policing of drugs.
Nonverbal intelligence and scholastic performance in children with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Troncone Alda , Chianese Antonietta , Zanfardino Angela , Cascella Crescenzo , Confetto Santino , Perrone Laura , Iafusco Dario
Published: June 2017

This study examined nonverbal intelligence and scholastic achievement in children with type 1 diabetes. In a retrospective case–control study, 69 children (35 males) ages 5–10 years with type 1 diabetes and 69 healthy controls matched to patients by age, gender and socioeconomic status were compared according to their performance on Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices and their scholastic grades. No differences in nonverbal intelligence and grades were observed between children with type 1 diabetes and healthy control subjects. Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices scores inversely correlated with duration of illness both in children with early onset of type 1 diabetes and poor metabolic control. Possible explanations of the results and implications are discussed.
Effects of Spatial Patch Characteristics and Landscape Context on Plant Phylogenetic Diversity in a Naturally Fragmented Forest
Authors: Arellano-Rivas Amaranta , Munguía-Rosas Miguel A. , De-Nova J. Arturo , Montiel Salvador
Published: June 2017

Phylogenetic diversity is a reliable predictor of taxonomic and functional diversity and of biodiversity option value. During forest fragmentation, forest patches that vary in size, degree of isolation, and shape are formed. Identifying the spatial characteristics of forest remnants that maximize phylogenetic diversity could be useful to conservationists when prioritizing areas to be protected if resources are limited. In this study, we assessed whether spatial patch characteristics (size, edge density, and shape) and the context of the patch in the surrounding landscape (i.e., isolation degree) affect plant phylogenetic diversity in 19 naturally shaped forest patches. Owing to the age of the forest patches, the study system allowed us to assess the long-term effects of spatial variables on phylogenetic diversity. We found that patch size has a positive effect on phylogenetic diversity, presumably because environmental heterogeneity and niche opportunities are greater in bigger patches. Also, phylogenetic diversity was positively affected by edge density. The convergent evolution of traits which confer tolerance to prevailing edge conditions in phylogenetically distant species may explain this result. We suggest that patch size is a reliable predictor of plant phylogenetic diversity and could be used as a prioritization criterion in conservation strategies, at least in the study area.
Relationship between treatment of erectile dysfunction and future risk of cardiovascular disease: A nationwide cohort study
Authors: Vestergaard Nanna , Søgaard Peter , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Aasbjerg Kristian
Published: June 2017

Aims

Erectile dysfunction is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, little is known about patients seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction. This study investigated the risk of cardiovascular disease for patients receiving medication for erectile dysfunction.

Methods and results

This nationwide cohort study included 71,710 men aged 40–80 years receiving their first erectile dysfunction medication from 2000 to 2012. Their adjusted risk of cardiovascular events in time intervals after the first erectile dysfunction medication was compared to the general male population using multivariate Poisson regression models and was expressed as a risk ratio (RR). The risk for overall cardiovascular disease was decreased in the first 3 years: the RR in the first year was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87–0.97, p = 0.003; incidence: 23.68 per 1000 patient-years), and after 1–3 years the RR was 0.94 (95% CI 0.90–0.97, p = 0.002; incidence: 24.92 per 1000 patient-years). After 3 years, there was no significant difference. The risk of myocardial infarction was decreased in all time intervals: the RR in the first year was 0.60 (95% CI 0.50–0.73, p < 0.001; incidence: 1.82 per 1000 patient-years), after 1–3 years the RR was 0.72 (95% CI 0.63–0.82, p < 0.001; incidence: 2.16 per 1000 patient-years) and after 3 years the RR was 0.80 (95% CI 0.73–0.88, p < 0.001; incidence: 2.25 per 1000 patient-years). The risk of heart failure was decreased in the first 3 years.

Conclusion

Receiving medication for erectile dysfunction was associated with a decreased risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular diseases for the first 3 years.
Is minimally invasive surgery superior to open surgery for treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis? A systematic review
Authors: Ka Man Ng Karen , Pui Yin Cheung Jason
Published: June 2017

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to review the updated evidence comparing outcomes between minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and conventional open surgery (COS) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

Methods:

All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2005 to August 2016 were identified through PubMed and MEDLINE databases. Only RCTs including patients with LSS and with direct comparison between COS and MIS were selected for analysis. The intra- and post-operative effects of different MIS and COS on patients with LSS were evaluated for any differences.

Results:

We reviewed 10 RCTs comparing the effect of MIS and COS for LSS. Most trials showed that MIS rendered a shorter duration of hospital stay, lower reoperation rate, visual analogue scale (VAS), 36-Item Form Health Survey (SF-36) score, creatinine phosphokinase-skeletal muscle (CPK-MM) levels and a higher Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. However, the intergroup differences were not statistically significant for all comparisons and were only present for selected mild cases of spinal stenosis.

Conclusions:

This systematic review suggests that MIS reduces operating time, duration of hospital stay and CPK-MM levels. However, the evidence for these parameters is weak. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence that MIS reduces reoperation or has better improvement in pain and outcome scores like VAS, SF-36 and JOA scores. The evidence is limited due to poor standardization of MIS definition, methodology and details of surgeon experience. MIS techniques should not be studied as a group, as each procedure is vastly different from each other.