Banking risk and regulation: Does one size fit all?

Using data for more than 200 banks from 21 OECD countries for the period 2002 to 2008, we examine the impact of bank regulation and supervision on banking risk. Supervisory control, and regulations on capital and market entry have a significant impact on 'capital and asset risk', while supervisory control and regulations on activities restrictions, private monitoring, market entry, and liquidity, have a significant effect on 'liquidity and market risk'. However, quantile regressions suggest that the effect of regulation and supervision differs across banks: most indicators of bank regulation and supervision do not have a significant effect on low-risk banks, while they do affect high-risk banks.

Election cycles in natural resource rents:Empirical evidence

We examine whether governments' natural resource rents are affected by upcoming elections and if so, whether the incumbent uses these additional rents for re-election purposes. Estimates of a dynamic panel model for about 60 countries for 1975-2011 suggest that elections increase natural resource rents. The incumbent uses these rents for expanding public spending and reducing taxes before elections. However, these electoral cycle effects are statistically significant only in young democracies. Our results also suggest that election effects are stronger in countries with limited access to free media, limited political checks and balances, and a presidential system.</p

Primary Shoulder Arthroplasty Versus Conservative Treatment for Comminuted Proximal Humeral Fractures: A Systematic Literature Review

The objective was to identify whether arthroplasty or conservative treatment is the best available treatment for three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures by analyzing the outcome measure of the Constant score. We conducted an electronic search. The systematic review included 33 studies encompassing 1096 patients with three- or four-part proximal humeral fractures that used the Constant score as outcome measure. The mean Constant score in the conservative group was 66.5 and in the arthroplasty group was 55.5. The difference could be attributed to selection bias, unreliable classification of the fractures and inter-observer differences in the assessment of the Constant score

Transforming Existing Procedural Business Processes into a Constraint-Based Formalism

Many organizations use business process management to manage and model their processes. Currently, flow-based process formalisms, such as BPMN, are considered the standard for modeling processes. However, recent literature describes several limitations of this type of formalism that can be solved by adopting a constraint-based formalism. To preserve economic investments in existing process models, transformation activities needed to be limited. This paper presents a methodical approach for performing the tedious parts of process model transformation. Executing the method results in correctly transformed process models and reduces the effort required for converting the process models

Eenvoudige elleboogluxaties in Nederland: Wat doen Nederlandse chirurgen?

Abstract: Er is weinig evidence voor de optimale behandeling van eenvoudige elleboogluxaties. Hoewel er aanwijzingen zijn dat eenvoudige elleboogluxaties niet te lang moeten worden geïmmobiliseerd en functioneel kunnen worden nabehandeld. Om een overzicht te krijgen over hoe eenvoudige elleboogluxaties in Nederland worden behandeld, verrichtten wij een enquête onder leden van de Nederlandse Vereniging van Traumatologie. Alle leden ontvingen een e-mail met het verzoek om een digitale vragenlijst over de behandeling van elleboogluxaties in te vullen. Het response percentage was 17% (n=90). Vijfendertig (39%) chirurgen verbinden geen consequenties aan stabiliteitsonderzoek van de elleboog na repositie. Drieënzestig procent van deze chirurgen behandelt de patiënten met een gipsverband gedurende gemiddeld 3.4 weken. Bij 55 (61%) van de 90 respondenten beïnvloed het stabiliteitsonderzoek wel de vorm van behandeling. Bij een stabiel gewricht wordt in ongeveer 64% van de gevallen een functionele behandeling voorgeschreven en bij een instabiel gewricht behandelen 24% van de respondenten functioneel met een functionele fixateur. De resultaten van de enquête onder Nederlandse chirurgen laat zien, dat de meeste ondervraagden immobilisatie verkiezen boven functionele behandelingAbstract Background: Randomised controlled trials and observational comparative studies show little proof for the optimal form of treatment for simple elbow dislocations. However, there is some evidence that functional treatment in simple elbow dislocations may lead to better functional outcome. To get an overview of how simple elbow dislocations are treated in the Netherlands we performed a survey among Dutch surgeons. Methods: All members of the Dutch Society of Traumatology received an e-mail with the request to fill out an electronic questionnaire. Results: The response rate was 17% (n=90) . Thirty vive (39%) of them stated that stability testing after reposition of the joint did not influence subsequent form of treatment. Sixty three percent of them treated patients with a above the elbow cast for a mean of 3.4 weeks. Fifty five (61%) responders used stability testing as a guide for treatment. joint is stable after reposition. In the case of a stabile joint 64% of these surgeons treat patients with functional treatment. When there is joint instability 24% prefer functional treatment with a hinged external fixator. Conclusion: The results of this inquiry among Dutch surgeons showed that the majority of simple elbow dislocations are treated with immobilisation and that functional treatment is not widespread

The reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Dutch version of the Oxford elbow score

Abstract Background: The Oxford elbow score (OES) is an English questionnaire that measures the patients’ subjective experience of elbow surgery. The OES comprises three domains: elbow function, pain, and social-psychological effects. This questionnaire can be completed by the patient and used as an outcome measure after elbow surgery. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the Dutch version of the translated OES for reliability, validity and responsiveness with respect to patients after elbow trauma and surgery. Methods: The 12 items of the English-language OES were translated into Dutch and then back-translated; the back-translated questionnaire was then compared to the original English version. The OES Dutch version was completed by 69 patients (group A), 60 of whom had an elbow luxation, four an elbow fracture and five an epicondylitis. QuickDASH, the visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) were also completed to examine the convergent validity of the OES in group A. To calculate the test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the OES, this questionnaire was completed three times by 43 different patients (group B). An average of 52 days elapsed between therapy and the administration of the third OES (SD=24.1). Results: The Cronbach’s α coefficients for the function, pain and social-psychological domains were 0.90, 0.87 and 0.90, respectively. The intra-class correlation coefficients for the domains were 0.87 for function, 0.89 for pain and 0.87 for social-psychological. The standardised response means for the domains were 0.69, 0.46 and 0.60, respectively, and the minimal detectable changes were 27.6, 21.7 and 24.0, respectively. The convergent validity for the function, pain and social-psychological domains, which were measured as the Spearman’s correlation of the OES domains with the MEPI, were 0.68, 0.77 and 0.77, respectively. The Spearman’s correlations of the OES domains with QuickDASH were -0.43, -0.44 and -0.47, respectively, and the Spearman’s correlations with the VAS were -0.33, -0.38 and -0.42, respectively

Rasch analysis of the Dutch version of the Oxford elbow score

Background: The Oxford elbow score (OES) is a patient-rated, 12-item questionnaire that measures quality of life in relation to elbow disorders. This English questionnaire has been proven to be a reliable and valid instrument. Recently, the OES has been translated into Dutch and examined for its reliability, validity, and responsiveness in a group of Dutch patients with elbow pathology. The aim of this study was to analyze the Dutch version of the OES (OES-DV) in combination with Rasch analysis or the one-parameter item response theory to examine the structure of the questionnaire. Methods: The OES-DV was administered to 103 patients (68 female, 35 male). The mean age of the patients was 44.3 ± 14.7 (range 15–75) years. Rasch analysis was performed using the Winsteps® Rasch Measurement Version 3.70.1.1 and a rating scale parameterization. Results: The person separation index, which is a measure of person reliability, was excellent (2.30). All the items of the OES had a reasonable mean square infit or outfit value between 0.6 and 1.7. The threshold of items were ordered, so the categories can function as intended. Principal component analysis of the residuals partly confirmed the multidimensionality of the English version of the OES. The OES distinguished 3.4 strata, which indicates that about three ranges can be differentiated. Conclusion: Rasch analysis of the OES-DV showed that the data fit to the stringent Rasch model. The multidimensionality of the English version of the OES was partly confirmed, and the four items of the function and three items of the pain domain were recognized as separate domains. The category rating scale of the OES-DV works well. The OES can distinguish 3.4 strata. This conclusion can only be applied to elbow dislocations, which were the largest group of patients studied

Good Functional Recovery of Complex Elbow Dislocations Treated With Hinged External Fixation: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Background: After a complex dislocation, some elbows remain unstable after closed reduction or fracture treatment. Function after treatment with a hinged external fixator theoretically allows collateral ligaments to heal without surgical reconstruction. However, there is a lack of prospective studies that assess functional outcome, pain, and ROM. Questions/purposes: We asked: (1) In complex elbow fracture-dislocations, does treatment with a hinged external fixator result in reduction of disability and pain, and in improvement in ROM, function, and quality of life? (2) Does delayed treatment (7 days or later) have a negative effect on ROM after 1 year? (3) What are the complications seen after external fixator treatment? Methods: During a 2-year period, 11 centers recruited 27 patients 18 years or older who were included and evaluated at 2 and 6 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery as part of this prospective case series. During the study period, the participating centers agreed on general indications for use of the hinged external fixator, which included persistent instability after closed reduction alone or closed reduction combined with surgical treatment of associated fracture(s), when indicated. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH; primary outcome) score, the Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI), the Oxford Elbow Score, and the level of pain (VAS). ROM, adverse events, secondary interventions, and radiographs also were evaluated. A total of 26 of the 27 patients (96%) were available for followup at 1 year. Results: All functional and pain scores improved. The median QuickDASH score decreased from 30 (25th–75th percentiles [P25–P75], 23–40) at 6 weeks to 7 (P25–P75, 2–12) at 1 year with a median difference of −25 (p < 0.001). The median MEPI score increased from 80 (P25–P75, 64–85) at 6 weeks to 100 (P25–P75, 85–100) at 1 year with a median difference of 15 (p < 0.001). The median Oxford Elbow Score increased from 60 (P25–P75, 44–68) at 6 weeks to 90 (P25–P75, 73–96) at 1 year with a median difference of 29 (p < 0.001). The median VAS decreased from 2.8 (P25–P75, 1.0–5.0) at 2 weeks to 0.5 (P25–P75, 0.0–1.9) at 1 year with a median difference of −2.1 (p = 0.001). ROM also improved. The median flexion-extension arc improved from 50°

A Proof of Concept Study on Real-Pime LiMAx CYP1A2 Liver Function Assessment of Donor Grafts During Normothermic Machine Perfusion

No single reliable parameter exists to assess liver graft function of extended criteria donors during ex-vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP). The liver maximum capacity (LiMAx) test is a clinically validated cytochromal breath test, measuring liver function based on 13CO2 production. As an innovative concept, we aimed to integrate the LiMAx breath test with NMP to assess organ function. Eleven human livers were perfused using NMP. After one hour of stabilization, LiMAx testing was performed. Injury markers (ALT, AST, miR-122, FMN, and Suzuki-score) and lactate clearance were measured and related to LiMAx values. LiMAx values ranged between 111 and 1838 µg/kg/h, and performing consecutive LiMAx tests during longer NMP was feasible. No correlation was found between LiMAx value and miR-122 and FMN levels in the perfusate. However, a significant inverse correlation was found between LiMAx value and histological injury (Suzuki-score, R = − 0.874, P < 0.001), AST (R = − 0.812, P = 0.004) and ALT (R = − 0.687, P = 0.028). Furthermore, a significant correlation was found with lactate clearance (R = 0.683, P = 0.043). We demonstrate, as proof of principle, that liver function during NMP can be quantified using the LiMAx test, illustrating a positive correlation with traditional injury markers. This new breath-test application separates livers with adequate cytochromal liver function from inadequate ones and may support decision-making in the safe utilization of extended criteria donor grafts