Addressing health corruption during a public health crisis through anticipatory governance: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Corruption in the health sector costs over 500 billion USD annually, weakening health system preparedness and response to health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of resources to deal with a shock limits the capacity to protect the population, exposing them to a greater risk of infection and mortality. There is an urgent need to improve health policy to reduce corruption in the health sector during times of crisis. This article aims to propose a prepare and response strategy to address corruption during times of health crises. We first explore the inherent characteristics of health systems that make them vulnerable to corruption and present the different faces corrupt practices take. We then explain why anticipatory governance is fundamental in addressing corruption in health systems and draw upon examples of corruption during COVID-19. Finally, we conclude by proposing that anticipatory governance could decrease the impact of corruption during health crises by increasing the availability of resources required to improve the population's health

Inclusive V0 Production at the LHC

The inclusive production of V0-particles, i.e. K0s mesons, Lambda and anti-Lambda baryons in ppcollisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is analyzed with the LHCb detector. The study is done separately for both polarities of the LHCb spectrometer magnet. The results are combined for the final cross-section measurements. The total luminosity used for the analysis is 1.8 nb−1. The production cross-section ismeasured in bins of the V0 phase space. The kinematic variables used are the V0 transverse momentum pT and rapidity y. The selected range for the kinematic variables is 0 <= pT <= 2.4 GeV/c and 2.5 <= y <= 4.5 for the K0s and 0.2 <= pT <= 2.4 GeV/c and 2.5 <= y <= 4.0 for Lambda and anti-Lambda. The measurements are compared with predictions from QCD based models of multi-hadron production at high energies

Análisis de las características de los ataques en desigualdad numérica del Campeonato Europeo Femenino de Handball 2018

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar las características de la eficacia de los ataques en desigualdad numérica de los equipos que clasificaron a la segunda fase del campeonato europeo de handball femenino disputado en Francia en 2018. Se analizaron un total de 35 partidos. El análisis se llevó a cabo mediante una metodología observacional, su diseño es ideográfico, multidimensional y puntual. Se elaboró un instrumento ad hoc para realizar las observaciones. Se registraron las situaciones ofensivas en las que los equipos se encontraban en desigualdad numérica a partir de una sanción progresiva o de la utilización de la regla 4:1. Los resultados de este trabajo mostraron que no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas que confirmen que la eficacia en desigualdad numérica sea una condición de victoria. Los equipos deciden sustituir al portero para generar igualdad numérica en la mayoría de los casos, así mismo, se concluye que la eficacia en estas situaciones disminuye. Se sustituye al portero mayoritariamente cuando el marcador es abultado, ya sea adverso (para intentar disminuir la diferencia) o a favor (libertad de asumir riesgos), o cuando el equipo se encuentra un gol abajo.UY-MoUC

Differences of corruption types in selected Western and central-eastern health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic: a rapid review

YesTo identify, describe, and classify the cases of health corruption present in selected Western [the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK)] and Central-Eastern European (Poland and Slovakia) countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. A rapid review of the literature was conducted, evaluating data from 11 March 2020 to 15 April 2021. Information sources included MEDLINE via WoS, IBSS via ProQuest, Scopus, and gray literature. Thirteen cases were identified across the four countries. The primary type of health corruption in Western European countries was procurement corruption, while misuse of (high) level positions was the most prevalent in Central-Eastern European countries. Actors from central governments were most involved in cases. The rule of law and anti-corruption watchdogs reported most cases in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, while the media reported cases in Poland and Slovakia. The differences in types of corruption in WE and CEE countries emphasize the need to contextualize the approach to tackle corruption. Thus, further research in preventing and tackling corruption is a vital and necessary undertaking despite the inherent of conducting health corruption research

Effectiveness and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke in Latin American countries: A systematic review

YesTo describe the use, effectiveness, and safety outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Latin American countries. Studies reporting MT outcomes for AIS in Latin America were identified in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, SciELO, EMBASE, and LILACS databases. Synthesis was conducted according to effectiveness (recanalization rates) and safety measures (mortality and functional independence at 90 days). Seventeen studies were included, mainly from public and university hospitals. MT utilization varied from 2.6% to 50.1%, while successful recanalization ranged from 63% to 95%. Functional independence 90 days after stroke (a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2) was achieved in less than 40% across most studies. Mortality rates were below 30%; studies with posterior circulation strokes reported higher mortality rates. The randomized trial reported better health outcomes for functional independence among patients in the MT group (OR 2.28; 95% CI, 1.41 - 3.69), favoring MT over standard care. The included studies had great methodological heterogeneity due to differences in study design, the MT time window, and stroke location. The only randomized trial showed improved functional independence and lower mortality rates with MT than with standard care. The rest of the studies reported similar findings to available literature. Efforts to improve stroke care are reflected in improved patient outcomes in the region. Future studies should consider standard time window criteria and reduce the risk of bias by including representative samples and comparison groups

Decay Rate Ratios of Upsilon(5S) to B Bbar Reactions

We calculate the decay rate ratios for OZI allowed decays of Upsilon(5S) to two B mesons by using the decay amplitudes which incorporate the wave function of the Upsilon(5S) state. We obtain the results that the branching ratio of the Upsilon(5S) decay to Bs* Bs*bar is much larger than the branching ratio to Bs Bs*bar or Bsbar Bs*, in good agreement with recent experimental results of CLEO and BELLE. This agreement with the experimental results is made possible since the nodes of the Upsilon(5S) radial wave function induce the nodes of the decay amplitude. We find that the results for the Upsilon(5S) decays to Bu(*) Bu(*)bar or Bd(*) Bd(*)bar pairs are dependent on the parameter values used for the potential between heavy quarks.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Measurement of the Decay Constant fDS+f_D{_S^+} using $D_S^+ --> ell^+ nu

We measure the decay constant fDs using the Ds -> l+ nu channel, where the l+ designates either a mu+ or a tau+, when the tau+ -> pi+ nu. Using both measurements we find fDs = 274 +-13 +- 7 MeV. Combining with our previous determination of fD+, we compute the ratio fDs/fD+ = 1.23 +- 0.11 +- 0.04. We compare with theoretical estimates.Comment: 6 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2007

Measurement of Interfering K^*+K^- and K^*-K^+ Amplitudes in the Decay D^0 --> K^+K^-pi^0

We have studied the Cabibbo-suppressed decay mode D^0 into K^+ K^- pi^0 using a Dalitz plot technique and find the strong phase difference delta_D [defined as delta_(K*^- K^+) - delta_(K*^+ K^-)] = 332 degrees +- 8 degrees +- 11 degrees and relative amplitude r_D [defined as a_(K*^- K^+) / a_(K*^+ K^-)] = 0.52 +- 0.05 +- 0.04. This measurement indicates significant destructive interference between D^0 into K^+ (K^- pi^0)_K*^- and D^0 into K^- (K^+ pi^0)_K*^+ in the Dalitz plot region where these two modes overlap. This analysis uses 9.0 fb^(-1) of data collected at s^(1/2) of approximately 10.58 GeV with the CLEO III detector.Comment: 10 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, Submitted to Phys. Rev. D (Rapid Communications

Confirmation of the Y(4260) Resonance Production in ISR

Using 13.3 fb^-1 of e+e- collision data taken in the Upsilon(1S-4S) region with the CLEO III detector at the CESR collider, a search has been made for the new resonance Y(4260) recently reported by the BaBar Collaboration. The production of Y(4260) in initial state radiation (ISR), and its decay into pi+pi-J/psi are confirmed. A good quality fit to our data is obtained with a single resonance. We determine M(Y(4260))=(4284+17-16(stat)+-4(syst)) MeV/c^2, Gamma(Y(4260))=(73+39-25(stat)+-5(syst)) MeV/c^2, and Gamma_ee(Y(4260))xBr(Y(4260)->pi+pi-J/psi)=(8.9+3.9-3.1(stat)+-1.9(syst)) eV/c^2.Comment: 8 pages postscript,also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, Submitted to PRD (Rapid Comm.

A Study of the Semileptonic Charm Decays D^0 --> pi^- e^+ nu_e, D^+ --> pi^0 e^+ nu_e, D^0 --> K^- e^+ nu_e, and D^+ --> barK^0 e^+ nu_e

Using a sample of 1.8 million DDbar meson pairs collected at the psi(3770) with the CLEO-c detector, we study the semileptonic decays D^0 -> pi^- e^+ nu_e, D^+ -> pi^0 e^+ \nu_e, D^0 -> K^- e^+ \nu_e, and D^+ -> Kbar^0 e^+ nu_e. For the total branching fractions we find B(D^0 -> pi^- e^+ \nu_e) = 0.299(11)(9)%, B(D^+ -> pi^0 e^+ \nu_e) = 0.373(22)(13)%, B(D^0 -> K^- e^+ nu_e) = 3.56(3)(9)%, and B(D^+ -> Kbar^0 e^+ nu_e) = 8.53(13)(23)%, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. In addition, form factors are studied through fits to the partial branching fractions obtained in five q^2 ranges. By combining our results with recent unquenched lattice calculations, we obtain |Vcd| = 0.217(9)(4)(23) and |Vcs| = 1.015(10)(11)(106), where the final error is theoretical.Comment: 18 pages, postscript also available through http://www.lns.cornell.edu/public/CLNS/2006/, submitted to PR