Influential Article Review - Innovation as a Driver of the Economy

This paper examines economics and innovation. We present insights from a highly influential paper. Here are the highlights from this paper: The paper examines the long-run relationship between innovation and per capita economic growth in the 19 European countries over the period 1989–2014. This study uses six different indicators of innovation: patents-residents, patents-non-residents, research and development expenditure, researchers in research and development activities, high-technology exports, and scientific and technical journal articles to examine this long-run relationship with per capita economic growth. Using cointegration technique, the study finds evidence of long-run relationship between innovation and per capita economic growth in most of the cases, typically with reference to the use of a particular innovation indicator. Using Granger causality test, the study finds the presence of both unidirectional and bidirectional causality between innovation and per capita economic growth. These results vary from country to country, depending upon the types of innovation indicators that we use in the empirical investigation process. Most importantly, the study finds that all these innovation indicators are considerably linked with per capita economic growth. This particular linkage is either supply-leading or demand-following in some occasions, while it is the occurrence of both in some other occasions. The policy implication of this study is that countries should recognize the differences in innovation and per capita economic growth in order to maintain sustainable development in these countries. For our overseas readers, we then present the insights from this paper in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and German

Dmitri Shalin Interview with Angelo A. Alonzo about Erving Goffman entitled I asked Goffman If He Had Time and He Said “No” But If I Wanted to Talk as He Ran a Couple of Errands on Telegraph Ave I Was Welcome to Come Along

Dr. Angelo A. Alonzo, professor of sociology at the Ohio State University and Yale University, wrote this memoir for the Erving Goffman Archives at the request of Dmitri Shalin and approved posting the present version on the web

Formats of Winning Strategies for Six Types of Pushdown Games

The solution of parity games over pushdown graphs (Walukiewicz '96) was the first step towards an effective theory of infinite-state games. It was shown that winning strategies for pushdown games can be implemented again as pushdown automata. We continue this study and investigate the connection between game presentations and winning strategies in altogether six cases of game arenas, among them realtime pushdown systems, visibly pushdown systems, and counter systems. In four cases we show by a uniform proof method that we obtain strategies implementable by the same type of pushdown machine as given in the game arena. We prove that for the two remaining cases this correspondence fails. In the conclusion we address the question of an abstract criterion that explains the results

A Pilot Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Training Combined with Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: There is currently no effective intervention for improving memory in people at increased risk for dementia. Cognitive training (CT) has been promising, though effects are modest, particularly at follow-up. Objective: To investigate whether adjunctive non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS) could enhance the memory benefits of CT in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Methods: Participants with aMCI were randomized to receive CT with either Active tDCS (2mA for 30min and 0.016mA for 30min) or Sham tDCS (0.016mA for 60min) for 15 sessions over a period of 5 weeks in a double-blind, sham-controlled, parallel group clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was the California Verbal Learning Task 2nd Edition. Results: 68 participants commenced the intervention. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis showed that the CT+Active tDCS group significantly improved at post treatment (p=0.033), and the CT+Sham tDCS group did not (p=0.050), but there was no difference between groups. At the 3-month follow-up, both groups showed large-sized memory improvements compared to pre-treatment (CT+Active tDCS: p<0.01, d=0.99; CT+Sham tDCS: p<0.01, d=0.74), although there was no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: This study found that CT+Active tDCS did not produce greater memory improvement compared to CT+Sham tDCS. Large-sized memory improvements occurred in both conditions at follow-up. One possible interpretation, based on recent novel findings, is that low intensity tDCS (used as 'sham') may have contributed biological effects. Further work should use a completely inert tDCS sham condition

Saúde Ambiental e Atenção Primária à Saúde nos microterritórios: a taxa de mortalidade infantil para subsidiar a atuação da equipe de saúde

In the past 20 years, the Brazilian Unified Health System has improved primary health care and the implementation of environmental health surveillance. In Brazil, basic sanitation coverage has also improved. Macro-regional inequalities are known to exist, but there is little information about the micro-territories where primary care actions are being carried out. This study attempts to describe the influence of drinking water coverage (DWC), sanitation (SC) and solid waste management services (SWMS) on the infant mortality rate (IMR) in areas covered by primary care facilities (PCF), within the Northwest Health District of Campinas/SP. An ecological study was conducted using secondary data for the year 2000. In the eight PCF, DWC varied between 96.3 % and 99.9 %, SC between 67 % and 99.8 %, and SWMS between 95.8 % and 99.9 %. The IMR varied between 5.5 ‰ and 22.9 ‰. An inverse relationship was found, in which the larger the DWC (R2= 0.73), SC (R2= 0.78) and SWMS (R2= 0.95) the lower was the IMR. In addition to other factors, basic sanitation affects the health of the population and, according to the results presented here, there are inequalities in the areas covered by the PCF. Therefore, managers and health professionals, especially those in primary care, should take these factors into consideration to set priorities, actions and targets for integral care, intersectoral collaboration and health surveillance.En los últimos 20 años, el Sistema Único de Salud en el Brasil ha mejorado la atención primaria de salud y la vigilancia de la salud ambiental. En Brasil, mejoró también la cobertura de saneamiento básico. Existen desigualdades macrorregionales y poca información sobre los microterritorios donde se llevan a cabo las acciones de la atención primaria. Se pretende describir la influencia de la cobertura de agua potable (CAP), servicios de saneamiento (SS) y servicios de gestión de los residuos sólidos municipales (RSM) en la tasa mortalidad infantil (TMI) de las zonas cubiertas por las unidades básicas de salud (UBS) del Distrito de Salud Noroeste de Campinas-SP. Se trata de un estudio ecológico realizado con datos secundarios para el año 2000. En las ocho UBS la CAP osciló entre 96,3 % y 99,9 %; los SS entre 67 % y 99,8 %; los servicios de gestión de RSM entre 95,8 % y 99,9 %. La TMI osciló en las diferentes UBS entre 5,5 ‰ y 22,9 ‰. Se observó que existe una relación inversa, cuanto mayor es la CAP (R2= 0,73), los SS (R2= 0,78) y los servicios de gestión de RSM (R2= 0,95) menor es la TMI. Además de otros factores, el saneamiento básico interfiere en la salud de la población y de acuerdo con los resultados presentados, también existen desigualdades en las áreas cubiertas por las UBS. Estas deben ser consideradas por los directivos y profesionales de la salud, especialmente de la atención primaria, para establecer las prioridades, acciones y metas para la atención integral y vigilancia de la salud y el trabajo intersectorial.Nos últimos 20 anos, o Sistema Único de Saúde no Brasil vem avançando no aprimoramento da atenção primaria e da vigilância em saúde ambiental. No País, também, melhorou a cobertura do saneamento básico. Mas existem iniquidades macrorregionais e são escassas as informações sobre os microterritórios, onde as ações básicas de saúde se concretizam. Descrever a influência das coberturas do sistema de abastecimento de água (SAA), esgotamento sanitário (ES) e coleta de resíduos sólidos domiciliares (CRSD) na taxa mortalidade infantil (TMI) nas áreas de abrangência das unidades básicas de saúde (UBS) do Distrito de Saúde Noroeste de Campinas-SP. Foi conduzido estudo ecológico com dados secundários referentes a 2000. As coberturas nas oito UBS: do SAA variou entre 96,3 %, de Valença, e 99,9 % de Integração; de ES entre 67 %, de Ipaussurama e 99,8 % de Integração; da CRSD entre 95,8 % de Florence e 99,9 % de Perseu e Integração. A TMI variou entre 5,5 ‰, na UBS Perseu e 22,9 ‰ Floresta. Observou-se que existe relação inversa, quanto maior a cobertura do SAA (R2=0,73), de ES (R2=0,78) e da CRSD (R2= 0,95) menor a TMI nas UBS. Além de outros fatores, o saneamento básico determina o processo saúde doença da população e conforme os achados, existem iniquidades também nos microterritórios de abrangência das UBS que devem ser consideradas pelos gestores e profissionais de saúde, principalmente, da atenção primária na pactuação das prioridades, ações e metas para atenção integral e vigilância em saúde e atuação intersetorial

Dairy foods and health: an umbrella review of observational studies

Evidence on consumption of dairy foods and human health is contradictory. This study aimed to summarize the level of evidence of dairy consumption on various health outcomes. A systematic search for meta-analyses was performed: study design, dose\u2013response relationship, heterogeneity and agreement of results over time, and identification of potential confounding factors were considered to assess the level of evidence. Convincing and probable evidence of decreased risk of colorectal cancer, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, elevated blood pressure and fatal stroke, respectively, was found for total dairy consumption; possible decreased risk of breast cancer, metabolic syndrome, stroke and type-2 diabetes, and increased risk of prostate cancer and Parkinson\u2019s disease was also found. Similar, yet not entirely consistent evidence for individual dairy products was reported. Among potential confounding factors, geographical localisation and fat content of dairy have been detected. In conclusions, dairy may be part of a healthy diet; however, additional studies exploring confounding factors are needed to ascertain the potential detrimental effects

Whole grain consumption and human health: an umbrella review of observational studies

Whole grains have been associated with a number of health benefits. We systematically reviewed existing meta-analyses of observational studies and evaluated the level of evidence for their putative effects based on pre-selected criteria. Of the 23 included studies, we found convincing evidence of an inverse association between whole grain consumption and risk of type-2 diabetes and colorectal cancer; possible evidence of decreased risk of colon cancer and cardiovascular mortality with increased whole grain intake, as well as increased risk of prostate cancer. Limited or insufficient evidence was available for all other outcomes investigated. Overall findings are encouraging for a positive effect of whole grain consumption on certain diseases, especially highly prevalent metabolic diseases, however, uncertainty of some negative associations deserves further attention

Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2–F3, or F1 with at least oneaccompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpointsfor the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2–F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1–F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2–F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1–F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes