Dobutamine stress MRI in pulmonary hypertension: relationships between stress pulmonary artery relative area change, RV performance, and 10-year survival

In pulmonary hypertension (PH), right ventricular (RV) performance determines survival. Pulmonary artery (PA) stiffening is an important biomechanical event in PH and also predicts survival based on the PA relative area change (RAC) measured at rest using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this exploratory study, we sought to generate novel hypotheses regarding the influence of stress RAC on PH prognosis and the interaction between PA stiffening, RV performance and survival. Fifteen PH patients underwent dobutamine stress-MRI (ds-MRI) and right heart catheterization. RACREST, RACSTRESS, and ΔRAC (RAC STRESS – RAC REST) were correlated against resting invasive hemodynamics and ds-MRI data regarding RV performance and RV-PA coupling efficiency (n’vv [RV stroke volume/RV end-systolic volume]). The impact of RAC, RV data, and n’vv on ten-year survival were determined using Kaplan–Meier analysis. PH patients with a low ΔRAC (<−2.6%) had a worse long-term survival (log-rank P = 0.045, HR for death = 4.46 [95% CI = 1.08–24.5]) than those with ΔRAC ≥ −2.6%. Given the small sample, these data should be interpreted with caution; however, low ΔRAC was associated with an increase in stress diastolic PA area indicating proximal PA stiffening. Associations of borderline significance were observed between low RACSTRESS and low n’vvSTRESS, Δη’VV, and ΔRVEF. Further studies are required to validate the potential prognostic impact of ΔRAC and the biomechanics potentially connecting low ΔRAC to shorter survival. Such studies may facilitate development of novel PH therapies targeted to the proximal PA

Análisis general de sistemas productivos claves y sus indicadores a nivel nacional en el contexto de crecimiento verde

El concepto de crecimiento verde fue incluido en el Plan Nacional de Desarrollo 2014-2018 “Todos por un Nuevo País” con el objetivo de buscar el desarrollo económico sostenible, la competitividad y la reducción de vulnerabilidades al cambio climático. En este informe se busca dar a conocer el estado actual de los indicadores de crecimiento verde para diferentes sistemas productivos agropecuarios en Colombia e identificar las opciones tecnológicas que permitan mejorar dichos indicadores con el fin de incrementar la productividad de la tierra sin afectar los demás indicadores de crecimiento verde. Para lograr esto se han propuesto en este estudio cinco fases que van desde la fase de preparación, un análisis general a nivel nacional, un análisis detallado a nivel regional, un análisis de barreras para la implementación de medidas y recomendaciones. Este reporte corresponde a la fase dos del estudio sobre análisis general. La línea base de expansión en área proyectada para los cinco sistemas productivos, la construcción y estimación de los indicadores a nivel nacional para cada uno de los sistemas productivos y una lista de opciones tecnológicas que pueden contribuir al crecimiento verde en estos sistemas productivos. Posteriormente se estimará el potencial que tiene cada tecnología sobre los indicadores de crecimiento verde. En este estudio también se incluye la metodología y resultados sobre el proceso de priorización de los sistemas productivos. The concept of green growth was included in the National Development Plan 2014-2018 "All for a New Country" with the objective of seeking sustainable economic development, competitiveness and the reduction of vulnerabilities in climate change. This report seeks to publicize the current status of green growth indicators for different agricultural production systems in Colombia and identify the technological options that allow improving the indicators in order to increase the productivity of the land without affecting the other indicators of green growth To achieve this, five phases have been improved in this study, ranging from the preparation phase, a general analysis at the national level, detailed analysis at the regional level, an analysis of barriers to the implementation of measures and recommendations. This report corresponds to the phase of the study on general analysis. The baseline projected in this area for the five productive systems, the construction and the estimation of the indicators at national level for each one of the productive systems and a list of technological options that can contribute to the green growth in these productive systems. Subsequently, the potential of each technology on green growth indicators will be estimated. This study also includes the methodology and results on the process of prioritization of productive systems.The concept of green growth was included in the National Development Plan 2014-2018 "All for a New Country" with the objective of seeking sustainable economic development, competitiveness and the reduction of vulnerabilities in climate change. This report seeks to publicize the current status of green growth indicators for different agricultural production systems in Colombia and identify the technological options that allow improving the indicators in order to increase the productivity of the land without affecting the other indicators of green growth To achieve this, five phases have been improved in this study, ranging from the preparation phase, a general analysis at the national level, detailed analysis at the regional level, an analysis of barriers to the implementation of measures and recommendations. This report corresponds to the phase of the study on general analysis. The baseline projected in this area for the five productive systems, the construction and the estimation of the indicators at national level for each one of the productive systems and a list of technological options that can contribute to the green growth in these productive systems. Subsequently, the potential of each technology on green growth indicators will be estimated. This study also includes the methodology and results on the process of prioritization of productive systems

Social surplus approach and heterodox economics

Given the emphasis on social provisioning in heterodox economics, two of its central theoretical organizing principles are the concepts of the total social product and the social surplus. This appears to link heterodox economics to the social surplus approach associated with the classical economists and currently with Sraffian economists. However, heterodox economics connects agency with the social surplus and the social product, which the Sraffians reject as they take the level and composition of the social product as given. Therefore the different theoretical approach regarding the social surplus taken in heterodox economics may generate a different but similar way of theorizing about a capitalist economy. To explore this difference is the aim of the paper. Thus the paper is divided into four parts and a conclusion. In the first section social provisioning and the social surplus is introduced. In the second section, the Sraffian social surplus approach is delineated while in the third section the heterodox social surplus approach is delineated. In the fourth section of the paper, some of the implications emerging from the differences between the two approaches are discussed. The paper is concluded in the final section