Unintended consequences of drug policies experienced by young drug users in contact with the criminal justice systems

The aim of this paper is to assess to what extent prohibitive drug policies hamper the management of drug problems from the perspective of young people who have experience with the criminal justice systems (CJS). Qualitative, in-depth interviews were carried out in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK) following a common interview guide to obtain comparative data on the life trajectories of drug experienced youth. Altogether 198 interviews with people aged 14–25 years were collected and analysed by national teams following a common coding book. Unintended consequences of drug policies for the individual and society were identified. Individual consequences included health consequences and traumatic experiences with law enforcement. Social consequences included those affecting social relations such as stigmatisation and those impacting on institutions, for example, focusing on drug use and neglecting other problems. This paper confirmed earlier research indicating unintended consequences of prohibitive drug policies but also added to the literature its cross-national perspective and use of young people narratives as a source of analyses. There are, however, policy measures available that may reduce the volume and range of unintended effects. Their implementation is crucial to reduce the array of unintended consequences of prohibitive drug policies

SUMOylation of the Forkhead Transcription Factor FOXL2 Promotes Its Stabilization/Activation through Transient Recruitment to PML Bodies

International audienceBACKGROUND: FOXL2 is a transcription factor essential for ovarian development and maintenance. It is mutated in the genetic condition called Blepharophimosis Ptosis Epicantus inversus Syndrome (BPES) and in cases of isolated premature ovarian failure. We and others have previously shown that FOXL2 undergoes several post-translational modifications. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, using cells in culture, we show that interference with FOXL2 SUMOylation leads to a robust inhibition of its transactivation ability, which correlates with a decreased stability. Interestingly, FOXL2 SUMOylation promotes its transient recruitment to subnuclear structures that we demonstrate to be PML (Promyelocytic Leukemia) Nuclear Bodies. Since PML bodies are known to be sites where post-translational modifications of nuclear factors take place, we used tandem mass spectrometry to identify new post-translational modifications of FOXL2. Specifically, we detected four phosphorylated, one sulfated and three acetylated sites. CONCLUSIONS: By analogy with other transcription factors, we propose that PML Nuclear Bodies might transiently recruit FOXL2 to the vicinity of locally concentrated enzymes that could be involved in the post-translational maturation of FOXL2. FOXL2 acetylation, sulfation, phosphorylation as well as other modifications yet to be discovered might alter the transactivation capacity of FOXL2 and/or its stability, thus modulating its global intracellular activity

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Prospective Observational Study on acute Appendicitis Worldwide (POSAW)

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical disease, and appendectomy is the treatment of choice in the majority of cases. A correct diagnosis is key for decreasing the negative appendectomy rate. The management can become difficult in case of complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study is to describe the worldwide clinical and diagnostic work-up and management of AA in surgical departments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Wyniki funkcjonowania uczelni publicznych: ustalenie zestawu wskaźników zapewniających wiarygodną informację zarządczą w oparciu o dane pochodzące ze sprawozdań jednostki

The aim of the study is to define a set of ratios, enabling multidimensional assessment of the activity of public universities as units of the public finance sector, in order to improve the efficiency of their management. The selection of appropriate ratios, which are also highly reliable in relation to occurring phenomena and processes, becomes a useful management tool. Hence, the content of the study includes a comprehensive measurement of a university's results. Empirical research was conducted at a deliberately selected multi-disciplinary university, i.e. an entity conducting research and didactic activities in many fields of science. The empirical material was collected using information derived from financial statements and analytical information from the accounting books of the analyzed entity. The study covered the years from 2015 to 2019. The conducted empirical research provided evidence in the light of which the developed set of ratios has a high management usefulness, as it allowed to assess the state of processes taking place in the examined unit.Celem opracowania jest określenie zestawu wskaźników umożliwiających wielowymiarową ocenę działalności publicznych szkół wyższej jako jednostek sektora finansów publicznych w celu usprawnienia efektywności zarządzania nimi. Dobór właściwych, odznaczających się wysoką wiarygodnością o zachodzących w nich zjawiskach i procesach wskaźników staje się przydatnym narzędziem zarządczym. Stąd też w treści opracowania dokonano kompleksowego pomiaru wyników uczelni. Badania empiryczne przeprowadzono na celowo dobranym uniwersytecie wielodziedzinowym, czyli podmiocie prowadzącym działalność badawczą i dydaktyczną w obszarze wielu dziedzin nauki. Materiał empiryczny zgromadzono przy wykorzystaniu informacji pochodzących ze sprawozdań finansowych i informacji analitycznych pochodzących z ksiąg rachunkowych badanej jednostki. Badaniem objęto lata 20015-2019. Przeprowadzone badania empiryczne dostarczyły argumentów, w świetle których opracowany zestaw wskaźników posiada wysoką użyteczność zarządczą, gdyż pozwolił ocenić stan zachodzących w badanej jednostce zjawisk

Wpływ nawożenia Polimagiem S na zawartość makroelementów w częściach jadalnych trzech odmian siedmiolatki (Allium fistulosum L.)

Welsh onions are characterized by a relatively high storage potential, high nutritional value and mild flavor, which contribute to their growing popularity among consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Polimag S fertilizer applied at two doses on the macronutrient content of edible parts of three Welsh onion cultivars. A two-factorial field experiment was performed in a randomized block design with three replications. It was set up in the Experimental Garden of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, and conduccted in 2010-2011. The experimental factors were: (1) Welsh onion cultivars Long White Ishikura, Parade and Performer, grown from seedlings for bunch harvest, and (2) the application of mixed fertilizer, Polimag S, at two doses of 0.072 kg m-2 and 0.144 kg m-2. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse, where each year seeds were sown in boxes (50 cm x 30 cm), between 14 and 20 March, to grow seedlings. At the two- or three-leaf stage, they were planted out in a field between 17 and 26 April. Forty-two seedlings were planted on a plot, at the 20 cm x 30 cm spacing. Polimag S, applied as a supplemental fertilizer at two different doses, was mixed with soil immediately before the transplanting of seedlings. A single harvest was carried out manually. Marketable yield consisted of healthy Welsh onion plants, with thickened leaf-bases of more than 1 cm in diameter, free from diseases, pests and mechanical damage. The chemical composition of Welsh onion plants was evaluated immediately after harvest. The concentrations of macronutrients (total N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S) were determined in edible parts of Welsh onion plants. Statistical analysis revealed no significant effect of a cultivar on the macronutrient content of whole Welsh onion plants, scapes and leaves. Leaves were characterized by the highest macronutrient concentrations. Polimag S at a 50% dose contributed to a significant increase in the total nitrogen and phosphorus content of whole plants. Wide Ca:Mg, Ca:P, K:Mg and K:(Mg+Ca) ratios were noted in whole Welsh onion plants.Siedmiolatka charakteryzuje się dość dobrą trwałością pozbiorczą, dużą wartością dietetyczną oraz łagodnym smakiem, który wzbudza coraz większe zainteresowanie konsumentów warzyw. Celem badań była ocena zawartości makroelementów w częściach jadalnych 3 odmian siedmiolatki nawożonej zróżnicowanymi dawkami Polimagu S. W latach 2010-2011 – w Ogrodzie Zakładu Dydaktyczno-Doświadczalnego Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie – przeprowadzono 2-czynnikowe doświadczenie polowe w układzie losowanych bloków, w 3 powtórzeniach. Badano wpływ następujących czynników: odmiany siedmiolatki Long White Iskihura, Parade, Performer przeznaczonej na zbiór pęczkowy oraz nawożenie nawozem wieloskładnikowym Polimag S w dwóch dawkach – 0,072 kg m-2 i 0,144 kg m-2. Siedmiolatkę uprawiano z rozsady. Każdego roku, między 14. a 20, marca nasiona wysiewano w szklarni-mnożarce do skrzynek wysiewnych o wym. 50x30 cm. W kolejnych latach rośliny w fazie 2-3 liści sadzono pojedynczo na polu między 17. a 26. kwietnia. Na poletku sadzono 42 rośliny w rozstawie 20x30 cm. Uzupełniające nawożenie Polimagiem S w dwóch zróżnicowanych dawkach zastosowano mieszając nawóz z glebą bezpośrednio przed sadzeniem rozsady. Zbiór roślin wykonywano jednorazowo, ręcznie. Do plonu handlowego zaliczano rośliny o średnicy cebuli powyżej 1 cm, zdrowe, nieporażone przez choroby i szkodniki, bez uszkodzeń mechanicznych. Ocenę składu chemicznego siedmiolatki wykonano bezpośrednio po zbiorze. W częściach jadalnych określono zawartość makroelementów (N ogólny, P, K, Mg, Ca, S). Analiza statystyczna nie wykazała istotnego wpływu odmiany na zawartość badanych składników w całej roślinie, łodydze rzekomej oraz liściach asymilacyjnych. Analizując zawartość makroelementów w poszczególnych częściach jadalnych siedmiolatki wykazano, że najbardziej zasobne w te pierwiastki były liście asymilacyjne. Zastosowanie 50% nawożenia uzupełniającego Polimagiem S wpłynęło istotnie na zwiększenie zawartości N ogólnego i P w całych roślinach. W całych roślinach siedmiolatki stwierdzono zwiększone proporcje między Ca:Mg, Ca:P oraz K:Mg i K:(Mg+Ca)