Sorcery and nature conservation

Representations of animals are diverse and can portray local understandings of nature conservation, information that is often missing from conservation debates. In Cantanhez National Park (southern Guinea-Bissau), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are recognized as animals that share certain features with humans but live independently of them in the forest. However, chimpanzees are also integral to socially mediated, deep-rooted local narratives about sorcery and nature conservation. We use results from ethnographic research to explore local interpretations of chimpanzee attacks on people. Attacks by ‘bush’ chimpanzees occur when an animal is provoked by someone's actions towards it. Unprovoked attacks, however, are either interpreted as the act of a shape-shifted chimpanzee (i.e. a sorcerer) or as the responsibility of conservation stakeholders. In the case of unprovoked attacks, chimpanzee aggression is linked to a perceived abuse of power and to greed, with implications for nature conservation locally. Close analysis of local representations of animals contributes to a broader consideration of conservation priorities and practice

Oral History Interview with Meredith Leischer, May 27, 2011

A Milwaukee native, Meredith Leischer identifies as a transgender person and psychic hermaphrodite. Leischer discusses her marriage and family life, career in the oil industry in the 1970s and 1980s, and return to Milwaukee in 1992. She describes her graduation with a master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1998 and subsequent efforts to secure her license to practice therapy. Leischer also discusses her involvement with Pathways Counseling Center and speaks at length about the history of the Gemini Gender Group.Milwaukee Transgender Oral History Project University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries Milwaukee, Wisconsin Meredith Leischer Interviewed by Brice Smith May 27, 2011 at Leischer’s home Transcribed by Shukrani Gray Copyright © 2011 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. All rights reserved. Brice Smith – BS Meredith Leischer – ML BS: Will you please state your name? ML: Meredith Leischer. BS: Alright Meredith. Well thank you very much for participating in the Milwaukee Transgender Oral History Project. Before we get started, what are your preferred gender pronouns? ML: “She” or “her.” I mean, that’ll work BS: And how do you identify? ML: Well, I identify as a transgender person. I don’t identify as a woman because I’m not. You know, I’m a hermaphrodite, a psychic hermaphrodite. You know, society doesn’t look at me as a woman and I’m not gonna pretend to be one in the face of, you know, not having the right biology. So, you know,

Aspirin for preventing the recurrence of venous thromboembolism.

N Engl J Med. 2012 May 24;366(21):1959-67. Aspirin for preventing the recurrence of venous thromboembolism. Becattini C, Agnelli G, Schenone A, Eichinger S, Bucherini E, Silingardi M, Bianchi M, Moia M, Ageno W, Vandelli MR, Grandone E, Prandoni P; WARFASA Investigators. Collaborators: Agnelli G, Becattini C, Prandoni P, Becattini C, Agnelli G, Prandoni P, Ageno W, Cimminiello C, Eichinger S, Duranti M, Radicchia S, Guercini F, Vedovati MC, Tormene D, Perlati M, Barbar S, Poggio R, Leischer L, Bucherini E, Galimberti D, Leone MF, Beretta A, Carugati A, Braham S, Romualdi E, Tiscia G, Colaizzo D, Grilli M, Siragusa S, Salvi R, Miccio M, Ria L, Zanatta N, Poli D, Camporese G, Verlato F, Salvi A, Nitti C, Santi R, Cimminiello C, Scannapieco G, Barillari G, Pasca S, De Gaudenzi E, Cappelli R, Di Minno G, Tufano A, Frausini G, Bova C, Pogliani E, Signorelli SS, Testa S, Alatri A, Mancuso G, Grifoni S, Lodigiani C. Division of Internal and Cardiovascular Medicine and Stroke Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. [email protected] Comment in N Engl J Med. 2012 May 24;366(21):2028-30. BACKGROUND: About 20% of patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism have a recurrence within 2 years after the withdrawal of oral anticoagulant therapy. Extending anticoagulation prevents recurrences but is associated with increased bleeding. The benefit of aspirin for the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism is unknown. METHODS: In this multicenter, investigator-initiated, double-blind study, patients with first-ever unprovoked venous thromboembolism who had completed 6 to 18 months of oral anticoagulant treatment were randomly assigned to aspirin, 100 mg daily, or placebo for 2 years, with the option of extending the study treatment. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrence of venous thromboembolism, and major bleeding was the primary safety outcome. RESULTS: Venous thromboembolism recurred in 28 of the 205 patients who received aspirin and in 43 of the 197 patients who received placebo (6.6% vs. 11.2% per year; hazard ratio, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36 to 0.93) (median study period, 24.6 months). During a median treatment period of 23.9 months, 23 patients taking aspirin and 39 taking placebo had a recurrence (5.9% vs. 11.0% per year; hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.92). One patient in each treatment group had a major bleeding episode. Adverse events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aspirin reduced the risk of recurrence when given to patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism who had discontinued anticoagulant treatment, with no apparent increase in the risk of major bleeding. (Funded by the University of Perugia and others; WARFASA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00222677.). PMID: 22621626 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE