Agri-Environmental Policy Measures in Israel: The Potential of Using Market-Oriented Instruments

This paper examines the possibilities of developing agri-environmental policy measures in Israel, focusing on market-oriented instruments. A conceptual framework for developing agri-environmental policy measures is presented, first in very broad lines (mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures) and subsequently focusing on economic instruments, and specifically, on market-oriented ones. Two criteria of choice between the measures are suggested: their contribution to improving the effectiveness of the policy; and the feasibility of their implementation. This is the framework used for analyzing agri-environmental measures in Israel. Israel currently implements a mix of mandatory regulations, economic instruments and advisory measures to promote the agri-environment. The use of additional economic instruments may improve the effectiveness of the policy. When comparing the effectiveness of various economic measures, we found that the feasibility of implementation of market-oriented instruments is greater, due to the Israeli public’s preference for strengthening market orientation in the agricultural sector. Four market-oriented instruments were practiced in a pilot project conducted in an Israeli rural area. We found that in this case study, the institutional feasibility and acceptance by stakeholders were the major parameters influencing the implementation of the market-oriented instruments, whereas the instruments’ contribution to enhancing the ecological or economic effectiveness were hardly considered by the stakeholders as arguments in favor of their use

Gender and sexuality I: Genderqueer geographies?

This review considers gender diversity across a range of spaces and places. I note that while the notion of gender has been troubled, there exists opportunities to trouble it further. I highlight the scholarship that has sought to deconstruct genders, and the binary framing of man/woman and male/female roles and relationships. The queering of sexuality has meant that geographers are now tracing the ways in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ) bodies experience and live their gender beyond normative binaries. Research concerned with relational gendered subjectivities within LGBTIQ communities is discussed, and I flag the trend that this research may conflate gendered experiences while privileging sexual subjectivities. Finally, I turn to the recent interest by geographers who - drawing on queer and trans* theories - argue for new and innovative understandings of gender diversity

Safety and efficacy of turoctocog alfa (NovoEight®) during surgery in patients with haemophilia A: Results from the multinational guardian™ clinical trials

PubMedID: 25273984Recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) products provide a safe and efficacious replacement therapy for prevention and treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia A. The present investigations from the multinational, open-label guardian™ clinical trials assessed the haemostatic response of turoctocog alfa (NovoEight®), a rFVIII product, in patients with severe haemophilia A (FVIII ? 1%) undergoing surgery. All patients had a minimum of 50 exposure days to any FVIII product prior to surgery and no history of inhibitors. A total of 41 procedures (13 orthopaedic, 19 dental and 9 general) were performed in 33 patients aged 4-59 years. Of the 41 procedures, 15 were major surgeries in 13 patients and 26 were minor surgeries in 21 patients. The success rate for haemostatic response was 100% (success was defined as 'excellent' or 'good' haemostatic outcome). Turoctocog alfa consumption on the day of surgery ranged from 27 to 153 IU kg-1. The mean daily dose declined over time, while retaining adequate FVIII coverage as measured by trough levels. Overall, no safety issues were identified. No thrombotic events were observed and none of the patients developed FVIII inhibitors. In conclusion, the present results show that turoctocog alfa was effective in controlling blood loss by obtaining a sufficient haemostatic response in patients with severe haemophilia A undergoing surgery. © 2014 The Authors. Haemophilia Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Once-weekly prophylaxis with glycoPEGylated recombinant factor VIII (N8-GP) in severe haemophilia A: Safety and efficacy results from pathfinder 2 (randomized phase III trial).

Introduction Turoctocog alfa pegol (N8‐GP) is a site‐specific, 40 kDa glycoPEGylated recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) product with an extended half‐life. The comprehensive main phase of the pivotal pathfinder 2 trial showed N8‐GP dosed every 4 days (Q4D) provided favourable safety and efficacy for preventing bleeds in 175 patients with haemophilia A. Aim and methods We investigated the safety and efficacy of N8‐GP prophylaxis when administered weekly (Q7D) for 24 weeks to patients with low bleeding rates in the pathfinder 2 extension trial. Patients (≥12 years) with ≤2 bleeds during the preceding 6 months of the pathfinder 2 main phase were eligible for randomization to receive N8‐GP 50 IU/kg Q4D or 75 IU/kg Q7D. Safety and efficacy endpoints were incidence of FVIII inhibitors and annualized bleeding rate (ABR), respectively. Results Fifty‐five of 143 (38.5%) patients on prophylaxis who continued into the extension phase were randomized to receive 50 IU/kg Q4D (n = 17) or 75 IU/kg Q7D (n = 38). Nine patients in the Q7D cohort reverted to 50 IU/kg Q4D. No inhibitors were detected. In both cohorts, >50% of patients experienced no bleeds. Median ABR for overall, joint, spontaneous, traumatic and muscle was 0.00 for both cohorts. Overall estimated success rate for treating bleeding episodes was 87.5%; 94.7% of bleeds were controlled with ≤2 injections. Conclusions Weekly N8‐GP was well tolerated and efficacious and may benefit selected “low bleeder” patients with haemophilia A

Safety and efficacy of turoctocog alfa (NovoEight®) during surgery in patients with haemophilia A: results from the multinational guardian™ clinical trials

Recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII) products provide a safe and efficacious replacement therapy for prevention and treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with haemophilia A. The present investigations from the multinational, open-label guardian(™) clinical trials assessed the haemostatic response of turoctocog alfa (NovoEight(®)), a rFVIII product, in patients with severe haemophilia A (FVIII ≤ 1%) undergoing surgery. All patients had a minimum of 50 exposure days to any FVIII product prior to surgery and no history of inhibitors. A total of 41 procedures (13 orthopaedic, 19 dental and 9 general) were performed in 33 patients aged 4-59 years. Of the 41 procedures, 15 were major surgeries in 13 patients and 26 were minor surgeries in 21 patients. The success rate for haemostatic response was 100% (success was defined as 'excellent' or 'good' haemostatic outcome). Turoctocog alfa consumption on the day of surgery ranged from 27 to 153 IU kg(-1). The mean daily dose declined over time, while retaining adequate FVIII coverage as measured by trough levels. Overall, no safety issues were identified. No thrombotic events were observed and none of the patients developed FVIII inhibitors. In conclusion, the present results show that turoctocog alfa was effective in controlling blood loss by obtaining a sufficient haemostatic response in patients with severe haemophilia A undergoing surgery