The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Enhancement Of Corrosion Resistance Aisi 304 Steel By Plasma Polymerized Thin Films

The purpose of this work is the deposition of films in order to increase the corrosion resistance of AISI 304 steel, which is a material used to construct the reactors for bioethanol production. This deposition inhibits the permeation of corrosive species to the film-metal interface. Thin films were prepared by radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) method using plasmas of hexamethyldisiloxane/argon/oxygen mixtures excited by signals of different powers. The plasma was generated by the application of RF power of 13.56 MHz to the sample holder while keeping grounded the topmost electrode and the chamber walls. The effect of the RF power on the properties of the samples was investigated by perfilometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results of the corrosion resistance tests of the AISI 304 steel were interpreted in terms of the energy delivered to the growing layer by plasma excitation power. © 2013 Materials Research Society.14993137Naddaf, M., Saloum, S., Hamadeh, H., (2008) J Phys. D App. Phys., 41, p. 1Zamini, S., Riccardi, C., Orlandi, M., Grumoldi, E., (2007) Vacuum, 82, p. 290Gaur, S., Vergason, G., Society of vacuum coaters (2000) 43rd Annual Technical Conference Proceedings - Denver, 15-20, p. 267Wrobel, A.M., Wertheimer, M.R., Plasma-polymerized organisilicones and organometallics (1990) Treatment, and Etching of Polymers, p. 163. , R. d'Agostino, Editor Plasma Deposition, Academic, LondonSahli, S., Segui, Y., Ramdani, S., Takkouk, Z., (1993) Thin Solid Films, 250, p. 206Theirich, D., Soil, Ch., Leu, F., Engemann, J., (2003) Vacuum, 71, p. 349Lamendola, R., D'agostino, R., (1998) Pure Appl. Chem., 70, p. 1203Vassallo, E., Cremona, A., Laguardia, L., Mesto, E., (2006) Surf. Coat. Technol., 200, p. 3035Saloum, S., Naddaf, M., (2008) Vacuum, 82, p. 66Vautrin-Ul, C., Laporte, C.B., Benissad, N., Chausse, A., Leprince, P.R., (2000) Messina Progress in Organic Coatings, 38, p. 9Rangel, R.C.C., Pompeu, T.C., Barros Jr., J.L.S., Antonio, C.A., Santos, N.M., Pelici, B.O., Freire, C.M.A., Rangel, E.C., (2012) Recent Researches in Corrosion Evaluation and Protection, pp. 91-116. , Reza Shoja RazaviMorent, R., De Geyter, N., Van Vlierberghe, S., Dubruel, P., Leys, C., Gengembre, L., Schacht, E., Payen, E., (2009) Prog, in Org. Coat., 64, p. 304Santos, D.C.R., Rangel, R.C.C., Mota, R.P., Cruz, N.C., Schreiner, W.H., Rangel, E.C., (2004) Mater. Res., 7, p. 493Vautrin-Ul, C., Roux, F., Boisse-Laporte, C., Pastol, J.L., Chauss, A., (2002) Journal of Material Chemistry, 12, p. 2318Mansfeld, F., (1981) Corrosion, 36, p. 301Mansfeld, F., Lin, S., Kim, S., Shi, H., (1989) Material Science Forum, 44, p. 8

A critical psychology of the postcolonial

Of the theoretical resources typically taken as the underlying foundations of critical social psychology, elements, typically, each of Marxism, feminism, psychoanalysis, and Post-Structuralism, one particular mode of critique remains notably absent: postcolonial theory. What might be the most crucial contributions that postcolonial critique can make to the project of critical psychology? One answer is that of a reciprocal forms of critique, the retrieval of a ‘psychopolitics’ in which we not only place the psychological within the register of the political, but - perhaps more challengingly - in which the political is also, strategically, approached through the register of the psychological. What the writings of Fanon and Biko make plain in this connection is the degree to which the narratives and concepts of the social psychological may be reformulated so as to fashion a novel discourse of resistance, one that opens up new avenues for critique for critical psychology, on one hand, and that affords an innovative set of opportunities for the psychological investigation of the vicissitudes of the postcolonial, on the othe

Corrosion Resistance Of 2024 Aluminum Alloy Coated With Plasma Deposited A-c:h:si:o Films

AA 2024 aluminum alloy is widely employed in aeronautic and automobilist industries. Its hardness and low density are attractive properties for such industrial areas. However, since it contains copper, it undergoes severe corrosion in aggressive media as saline or low Earth orbit environments. In this work, it was investigated the properties of films deposited by PECVD on AA 2024 aluminum alloy as well as the corrosion resistance of the film/substrate systems under different corrosive atmospheres. Films were prepared in a plasma atmosphere composed of 50% of oxygen and 50% of hexamethyldisiloxane resulting in a total gas pressure of 4.0 Pa. Plasma ignition was promoted by the application of radiofrequency signal (13.56 MHz) to the sample holder while grounding the topmost electrode. The plasma excitation power, P, was changed from 10 to 80 W in the six different set of experiments. Film thickness, measured by profilometer, increases by 5 times as P was elevated from 10 to 80 W. As demonstrated by the infrared spectra of the samples, films are essentially organosilicons with preservation of functional groups of the precursor molecule and with creation of different ones. The oxide proportion and the structure crosslinking degree are affected by the plasma excitation power. According to the results obtained by sessile drop technique, hydrophilic to moderately hydrophobic films are produced with changing P from 10 to 80 W. The corrosion resistance, evaluated by salt spray and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS, experiments, in general increases after film deposition. It is demonstrated that film deposition improves, in up to 36 times, the resistance of the alloy to salt spray attack. It is also shown an improvement of about 240 times in the alloy resistance under NaCl solution by the EIS data. Micrographs acquired by Scanning Electron Microscopy after the corrosion tests furnish further information on the importance of the layer physical stability on its barrier properties. Furthermore, films highly protect the alloy against the oxygen attack. Interpretations are proposed based on the modification of the plasma kinetics with P, altering film structure, composition and properties.17614491465Schneider, O., Kelly, R.G., Localized coating failure of epoxycoated aluminium alloy 2024-T3 in 0.5M NaCl solutions: Correlation between coating degradation, blister formation and local chemistry within blisters (2007) Corrosion Science., 49 (2), pp. 594-619. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2006.06.006Fonseca, I.T., Lima, N., Rodrigues, J.A., Pereira, M.I.S., Salvador, J.C.S., Ferreira, M.G.S., Passivity breakdown of Al 2024-T3 alloy in chloride solutions: A test of the point defect model (2002) Electrochemistry Communications., 4 (5), pp. 353-357. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1388-2481(02)00273-4Campestrini, P., Van Westing, E.P.M., Hovestad, A., De Wit, J.H.W., Investigation of the chromate conversion coating on Alclad 2024 aluminium alloy: Effect of the pH of the chromate bath (2002) Electrochimica Acta., 47 (7), pp. 1097-1113. , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0013-4686(01)00818-0Chan, Y., Yu, Q., Electrochemical characterization of plasma polymer coatings in corrosion protection of aluminum alloys (2005) Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. 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