HSC Year 1 cosmology results with the minimal bias method: HSC×\timesBOSS galaxy-galaxy weak lensing and BOSS galaxy clustering

We present cosmological parameter constraints from a blinded joint analysis of galaxy-galaxy weak lensing, $\Delta\!\Sigma(R)$, and projected correlation function, $w_\mathrm{p}(R)$, measured from the first-year HSC (HSC-Y1) data and SDSS spectroscopic galaxies over $0.15<z<0.7$. We use luminosity-limited samples as lens samples for $\Delta\!\Sigma$ and as large-scale structure tracers for $w_\mathrm{p}$ in three redshift bins, and use the HSC-Y1 galaxy catalog to define a secure sample of source galaxies at $z_\mathrm{ph}>0.75$ for the $\Delta\!\Sigma$ measurements, selected based on their photometric redshifts. For theoretical template, we use the "minimal bias" model for the cosmological clustering observables for the flat $\Lambda$CDM cosmological model. We compare the model predictions with the measurements in each redshift bin on large scales, $R>12$ and $8~h^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}$ for $\Delta\!\Sigma(R)$ and $w_\mathrm{p}(R)$, respectively, where the perturbation theory-inspired model is valid. When we employ weak priors on cosmological parameters, without CMB information, we find $S_8=0.936^{+0.092}_{-0.086}$, $\sigma_8=0.85^{+0.16}_{-0.11}$, and $\Omega_\mathrm{m}=0.283^{+0.12}_{-0.035}$ for the flat $\Lambda$CDM model. Although the central value of $S_8$ appears to be larger than those inferred from other cosmological experiments, we find that the difference is consistent with expected differences due to sample variance, and our results are consistent with the other results to within the statistical uncertainties. (abriged)Comment: 24 pages, 19 figures, 4 tables, to be submitted to Phys. Rev.

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

Creating 'Partners for Peace': The Palestinian Authority and the International Statebuilding Agenda

The Palestinian Authority (PA) offers an interesting case study of statebuilding in a conflict-country context. Created as an interim administration in the West Bank and Gaza in 1994, the PA has been hampered by the statebuilding framework enshrined in the Oslo Accords, its lack of sovereignty, the lack of final status negotiations, and the 'partners for peace' paradigm which is an attempt by donors and international organisations to support who they regard as the 'right' type of elite - that is, those willing to 'make peace' with Israel (as defined by Israel). This article explores the impacts of this paradigm and argues that it has paralysed the formal political process in Palestine and has securitised democracy