The Courts:Criminal Trials as Strategic Arenas

In this chapter we analyze cases where social movement activists are prosecuted in the courts for protest actions. The courthouse is a significant arena for social movement strategy, a symbolic site for the arbitration of collective disputes, the legitimization of political action, and the production of social meaning; the court is “one of society’s most sacred institutions since its role in defining, interpreting and enforcing the law puts it in close proximity to the moral basis of society” (Antonio, 1972, p.291-2). The outcomes of trials depend on the organization of the criminal justice system but also the responses and strategies of multiple other players, inside and outside the court, including social movement activists, allies and supporters. In common with the other chapters in this volume, our argument here is about “breaking down the state”, about thinking through the relationships of power and agency which define the interactions between state and non-state players. We seek to go beyond conceptualizations of state-movement relationships which might cast criminal trials merely as “state repression”, setting out the architecture of the court as an arena for political interaction and tactical choice, identifying the players who act within it, and arguing that more attention be given to the courts in analyses of protest action

Nowcasting GDP Growth: statistical models versus professional analysts

This thesis contains four chapters that cast new light on the ability of professional analysts and statistical models to assess economic growth in the current quarter (nowcast) and its development in the near future. This is not a trivial issue. An accurate assessment of the current state of the economy is important as starting point for medium-term forecasts, especially during times of heightened volatility, such as the recent financial crisis. Nowadays, practitioners have a wealth of statistical model to choose from; but which one should they use? Can statistical models be modified to improve their forecasting accuracy? What are the gains from combining the forecasts of different statistical models? Did the financial crisis change the forecasting performance of statistical models relative to professional analysts? Can practitioners use the near-term outlook of professional analysts to improve the forecasting accuracy of statistical models? This thesis gives answers to these questions, providing new insights of interest to both academics and practitioners. Central to this research is the construction of a new dataset, comprised of the near-term economic growth forecast of professional analysts, and the monthly indicators available when analysts made their forecasts

Pancreatic fistulae after pancreatic resections for neuroendocrine tumours compared with resections for other lesions

AbstractBackgroundResection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNET) is suggested to be associated with an increased risk of a post-operative pancreatic fistula (POPF). The aim of this study was to describe morbidity after resections for PNET, focusing on POPF. Outcomes were compared with resections for other lesions.MethodsPatients undergoing an elective pancreatic resection during a 12-year period were retrospectively analysed. Morbidity was defined according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) definitions.ResultsEighty-eight out of 832 patients (10.6%) underwent a resection for PNET. Atypical pancreatic resections (enucleation and central pancreatectomy) and distal pancreatectomies were more frequently performed for PNET. The POPF rate was 22.7% in patients operated for PNET compared with 17.2% in other patients (P = 0.200). In univariate analysis, body mass index (BMI), pancreatic duct diameter, somatostatin analogue administration, type of resection and type of pathology were associated with a POPF. In multivariate analysis, BMI, a pancreatic duct diameter <3 mm and central pancreatectomy remained independent risk factors [odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22–3.07 and OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.05–8.82, respectively].ConclusionsHigh rates of POPF were found in patients operated for PNET. However, this was mainly owing to the fact that atypical resections, known to be associated with a higher fistula rate, were performed more frequently in these patients

Effect of smoke-free policies in outdoor areas and private places on children's tobacco smoke exposure and respiratory health:a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Smoke-free policies in outdoor areas and semi-private and private places (eg, cars) might reduce the health harms caused by tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). We aimed to investigate the effect of smoke-free policies covering outdoor areas or semi-private and private places on TSE and respiratory health in children, to inform policy. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched 13 electronic databases from date of inception to Jan 29, 2021, for published studies that assessed the effects of smoke-free policies in outdoor areas or semi-private or private places on TSE, respiratory health outcomes, or both, in children. Non-randomised and randomised trials, interrupted time series, and controlled before-after studies, without restrictions to the observational period, publication date, or language, were eligible for the main analysis. Two reviewers independently extracted data, including adjusted test statistics from each study using a prespecified form, and assessed risk of bias for effect estimates from each study using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomised Studies of Interventions tool. Primary outcomes were TSE in places covered by the policy, unplanned hospital attendance for wheezing or asthma, and unplanned hospital attendance for respiratory tract infections, in children younger than 17 years. Random-effects meta-analyses were done when at least two studies evaluated policies that regulated smoking in similar places and reported on the same outcome. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020190563. FINDINGS: We identified 5745 records and assessed 204 full-text articles for eligibility, of which 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Of these studies, seven fit prespecified robustness criteria as recommended by the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care group, assessing smoke-free cars (n=5), schools (n=1), and a comprehensive policy covering multiple areas (n=1). Risk of bias was low in three studies, moderate in three, and critical in one. In the meta-analysis of ten effect estimates from four studies, smoke-free car policies were associated with an immediate TSE reduction in cars (risk ratio 0·69, 95% CI 0·55-0·87; 161 466 participants); heterogeneity was substantial (I2 80·7%; p<0·0001). One additional study reported a gradual TSE decrease in cars annually. Individual studies found TSE reductions on school grounds, following a smoke-free school policy, and in hospital attendances for respiratory tract infection, following a comprehensive smoke-free policy. INTERPRETATION: Smoke-free car policies are associated with reductions in reported child TSE in cars, which could translate into respiratory health benefits. Few additional studies assessed the effect of policies regulating smoking in outdoor areas and semi-private and private places on children's TSE or health outcomes. On the basis of these findings, governments should consider including private cars in comprehensive smoke-free policies to protect child health. FUNDING: Dutch Heart Foundation, Lung Foundation Netherlands, Dutch Cancer Society, Dutch Diabetes Research Foundation, Netherlands Thrombosis Foundation, and Health Data Research UK

A Clinical Trial to Validate Event-Related Potential Markers of Alzheimer\u27s Disease in Outpatient Settings

INTRODUCTION: We investigated whether event-related potentials (ERP) collected in outpatient settings and analyzed with standardized methods can provide a sensitive and reliable measure of the cognitive deficits associated with early Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). METHODS: A total of 103 subjects with probable mild AD and 101 healthy controls were recruited at seven clinical study sites. Subjects were tested using an auditory oddball ERP paradigm. RESULTS: Subjects with mild AD showed lower amplitude and increased latency for ERP features associated with attention, working memory, and executive function. These subjects also had decreased accuracy and longer reaction time in the target detection task associated with the ERP test. DISCUSSION: Analysis of ERP data showed significant changes in subjects with mild AD that are consistent with the cognitive deficits found in this population. The use of an integrated hardware/software system for data acquisition and automated data analysis methods make administration of ERP tests practical in outpatient settings

Detection of visual field defects using Eye Movement Pediatric Perimetry in children with intracranial lesions:feasibility and applicability

The study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of Eye Movement Pediatric Perimetry (EMPP) among children in detecting Visual Field Defects (VFDs) associated with Intracranial Lesions (IL). Healthy controls (n = 35) and patients diagnosed with IL (n = 19) underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation followed by a Goldmann Visual Field (GVF) and a customised EMPP protocol. During EMPP, all the participants were encouraged to fixate on a central target and initiate Saccadic Eye Movement (SEM) responses towards randomly appearing peripheral stimuli. The SEM responses were recorded using an eye-tracking device and further inspected to calculate Performance Scores (PS), Saccadic Reaction Times (SRTs), and an EMPP Index (EMPI). The mean age (years) of the controls and cases were 7.3 (SD: 1.5) and 9.4 (SD: 2.4) respectively. Among the controls, the older children (≥7 years) showed statistically significantly faster SRTs (p = 0.008) compared to the younger group. The binocular EMPP measurements compared between the controls and the cases revealed no statistically significant differences in PS (p = 0.34) and SRT (p = 0.51). EMPP failed in 4 children because of data loss or unacceptably poor PS whereas GVF failed in 7 children due to unreliable subjective responses. Of the 16 reports, with regard to the central 30-degree VF, 63% of the outputs obtained from both methods were comparable. EMPP is a reliable method to estimate and characterise the central 30-degree VF in greater detail in children with IL. EMPP can supplement the conventional methods, especially in those children who fail to complete a long duration GVF test