The Platform Review Alliance Board:Designing an organisational model to bring together producers and consumers in the review and commissioning of platform software

Digital networking technology has helped to bring about the platform economy, in which online networking sites mediate between individual freelance workers and their temporary employers. However, the digital platform economy undermines traditional forms of collective action, particularly trade unions. Following reflections on 15 years of trade union software quality assurance initiatives, particularly the Swedish UserAward program, we realize that there are potential benefits in combining aspects of cooperative, guild, and trade union models in the context of the platform economy. We examine the role that these models could play in enabling new forms of collective action and we bring them together in the form of a conceptual model which we have called the Platform Review Alliance Board. We articulate the Platform Review Alliance model as a set of design patterns, which we invite stakeholders to comment on, refine, and ultimately subscribe to. We then apply these design patterns in the domain of transport. In this domain, we show how software producers, users of the software, and other stakeholders, including individual transport providers, can participate in a Review Alliance Board for the commissioning, production, and review of software platforms for transport systems. The contribution we make is to propose how membership in a Review Alliance Board can be an alternative strategy for both software producers and trade union representatives in taking collective action to assure the quality of workplace software in the context of the growing platform economy

Potential Effect of an Apoprotein B-based Algorithm on Management of New Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia Referred to a Specialty Lipid Clinic

Background In patients with hypertriglyceridemia, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (nonHDL-C) is a targeted goal. However, apoprotein B100 (apoB) may be superior in predicting cardiovascular risk so we assessed the utility of an apoB-based. Methods New patients (n = 125) who had both apoB and standard lipids measured on the same day were included and we determined the concordances of having achieved goal lipid levels based upon proposed apoB versus nonHDL-C (ATP III) targets in patients with elevated TG (≥150 mg·dl −1 ) levels. Results Although apoB was correlated with nonHDL-C (r = 0.47, p ≤ 0.001), the tests had only a fair level of agreement when categorizing the percentage of patients achieving lipid goals for their degree of cardiovascular risk (Κ = 0.22). Among patients with an elevation in nonHDL-C above ATP III goals, between 12–42% had achieved target apoB. On the contrary, between 44–50% of patients were found to be at nonHDL-C but not apoB target. The results were not substantively altered if the analyses were confined to patients with TG values between 200–499 mg·dl −1 , rather than all patients with TG levels ≥ 150 mg·dl −1 , as specifically outlined in ATP III guidelines. In total, > 50% of all subjects would have been treated either more or less aggressively following an apoB-based therapeutic algorithm. Conclusions Our findings confirm that the majority of patients referred with hypertriglyceridemia would be managed differently by following an apoB-based treatment algorithm compared to ATP III guidelines. Although many patients would be candidates for more intense therapy, many would be treated less aggressively. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62999/1/20399_ftp.pd

The Self-assessment of the University Libraries and Accreditation System

This paper presents an in-depth case study from a development project in the bank sector. The findings have implications for companies that consider openness in their innovation activities. A large company that wishes to involve suppliers, partners, customers and end-users need to be prepared organizationally, with e.g., motivated individuals, and allocated budgets. This applies regardless company size, but, the study indicates that a smaller firm can more easily involve end-users, and can take advantage of its (built-in) proximity and flexibility towards customers. By knowing more and by planning for openness in a product development project, the expectations of involved parties can more easily be met. The indepth case study illustrates that openness in innovation takes time, and requires efforts, and should not be undertaken unless the company is well prepared for it.Business Navigato

Serum Calcium and the Risk of Breast Cancer: Findings from the Swedish AMORIS Study and a Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

To investigate the association between serum calcium and risk of breast cancer using a large cohort and a systematic review with meta-analysis. From the Swedish Apolipoprotein Mortality Risk (AMORIS) Study we included 229,674 women who had baseline measurements of serum total calcium and albumin. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess the association between total and albumin-corrected calcium and breast cancer risk. For the systematic review, an electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed to identify other prospective cohorts assessing the relationship between serum calcium and breast cancer risk. We pooled the results of our AMORIS cohort with other eligible studies in a meta-analysis using a random effects model. I² test was used to assess heterogeneity. In the AMORIS study, 10,863 women were diagnosed with breast cancer (mean follow-up: 19 years). We found an inverse association between total serum calcium and breast cancer when comparing the fourth quartile to the first quartile (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88-0.99, p value for trend 0.04) and similar results using albumin-corrected calcium. In the systematic review, we identified another two prospective cohorts evaluating pre-diagnostic serum total calcium and breast cancer. Combining these studies and our findings in AMORIS in a meta-analysis showed a protective effect of serum calcium against breast cancer, with a summary RR of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.66-0.97). No substantial heterogeneity was observed. Our findings in AMORIS and the meta-analysis support an inverse association between serum calcium and breast cancer risk, which warrants mechanistic investigations

Apolipoprotein B is Highly Associated with the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease as Estimated by the Framingham Risk Score in Healthy Korean Men

The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum apolipoprotein B (apoB) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) using Framingham risk score (FRS) in healthy Korean men. A total of 13,523 men without medication history of diabetes and hypertension were enrolled in this study. The FRS is based on six coronary risk factors. FRS ≥ 10% was defined as more-than-a-moderate risk group and FRS ≥ 20% as high risk group, respectively. The logistic regression analyses were conducted. When quartile 1 (Q1) set as a reference, in unadjusted analyses, the Q2, Q3, Q4 of apoB level had increased odds ratio (OR) for the risk of CHD in both more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed a strong relationship between the quartiles of apoB level and more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. These associations were attenuated, but still remained statistically significant. ApoB is found to be independently related to the risk of CHD using FRS in healthy Korean men, and the link between apoB and the risk of CHD is dose-depedent

Lipid-lowering for lower limb atherosclerosis

Background: Lipid-lowering therapy is recommended for secondary prevention in people with coronary artery disease. It may also reduce cardiovascular events and/or local disease progression in people with lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Objectives: To assess the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events and local disease progression in patients with PAD of the lower limb. Search methods: The authors searched The Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group's Specialised Register (last searched February 2007) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (last searched Issue 2, 2007) for publications describing randomised controlled trials of lipid-lowering therapy in peripheral arterial disease of the lower limb. Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with PAD of the lower limb. Data collection and analysis: Three authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Main results: Eighteen trials were included, involving a total of 10,049 participants. Trials differed considerably in their inclusion criteria, outcomes measured, and type of lipid-lowering therapy used. Only one trial (PQRST) reported a detrimental effect of active treatment on blood lipid/lipoprotein levels. The pooled results from all eligible trials indicated that lipid-lowering therapy had no statistically significant effect on overall mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.86; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.49 to 1.50) or on total cardiovascular events (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.59 to 1.09). However, subgroup analysis which excluded PQRST showed that lipid-lowering therapy significantly reduced the risk of total cardiovascular events (OR 0.74; CI 0.55 to 0.98). This was primarily due to a positive effect on total coronary events (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.87). Greatest evidence of effectiveness came from the use of simvastatin in people with a blood cholesterol ≥ 3.5 mmol/litre (HPS). Pooling of the results from several small trials on a range of different lipid-lowering agents indicated an improvement in total walking distance (Mean Difference (MD) 152 m; 95% CI 32.11 to 271.88) and pain-free walking distance (WMD 89.76 m; 95% CI 30.05 to 149.47) but no significant impact on ankle brachial index (WMD 0.04; 95% CI -0.01 to 0.09). Authors' conclusions: Lipid-lowering therapy is effective in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in people with PAD. It may also improve local symptoms. Until further evidence on the relative effectiveness of different lipid-lowering agents is available, use of a statin in people with PAD and a blood cholesterol level ≥ 3.5 mmol/litre is most indicated.Output Type: Revie

Circulating gamma-glutamyl transferase and development of specific breast cancer subtypes:Findings from the Apolipoprotein Mortality Risk (AMORIS) cohort

BACKGROUND: Different etiological pathways may precede development of specific breast cancer subtypes and impact prevention or treatment strategies. We investigated the association between gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and development of specific breast cancer subtypes based on oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status. METHODS: We included 231,283 cancer-free women in a Swedish cohort. Associations between GGT and breast cancer subtypes were investigated with nested case–control and case–case analyses. We used logistic regression models to assess serum GGT in relation to breast cancer subtype, based on individual and combined receptor status. RESULTS: Positive associations were found between serum GGT and development of ER+, ER− and PR+ breast cancers compared to controls (odds ratio (OR) 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.19), 1.11 (1.01–1.23) and 1.18 (1.12–1.24), respectively) and of ER+/PR+ tumours. We found inverse associations between GGT levels and PR− breast cancers compared to PR+ (OR 0.87 (0.80–0.95)), between ER+/PR− tumours compared to ER+/PR+ tumours and between ER−/PR−/HER+ compared to ER+/HER2 or PR+/HER2 tumours (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.34–0.90). CONCLUSION: The observed associations between pre-diagnostic serum GGT and different breast cancer subtypes may indicate distinct underlying pathways and require further investigations to tease out their clinical implications. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-017-0816-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users