71 research outputs found
Trends in crypto-currencies and blockchain technologies: A monetary theory and regulation perspective
The internet era has generated a requirement for low cost, anonymous and
rapidly verifiable transactions to be used for online barter, and fast settling
money have emerged as a consequence. For the most part, e-money has fulfilled
this role, but the last few years have seen two new types of money emerge.
Centralised virtual currencies, usually for the purpose of transacting in
social and gaming economies, and crypto-currencies, which aim to eliminate the
need for financial intermediaries by offering direct peer-to-peer online
payments.
We describe the historical context which led to the development of these
currencies and some modern and recent trends in their uptake, in terms of both
usage in the real economy and as investment products. As these currencies are
purely digital constructs, with no government or local authority backing, we
then discuss them in the context of monetary theory, in order to determine how
they may be have value under each. Finally, we provide an overview of the state
of regulatory readiness in terms of dealing with transactions in these
currencies in various regions of the world
Should the advanced measurement approach be replaced with the standardized measurement approach for operational risk?
Recently, Basel Committee for Banking Supervision proposed to replace all
approaches, including Advanced Measurement Approach (AMA), for operational risk
capital with a simple formula referred to as the Standardised Measurement
Approach (SMA). This paper discusses and studies the weaknesses and pitfalls of
SMA such as instability, risk insensitivity, super-additivity and the implicit
relationship between SMA capital model and systemic risk in the banking sector.
We also discuss the issues with closely related operational risk
Capital-at-Risk (OpCar) Basel Committee proposed model which is the precursor
to the SMA. In conclusion, we advocate to maintain the AMA internal model
framework and suggest as an alternative a number of standardization
recommendations that could be considered to unify internal modelling of
operational risk. The findings and views presented in this paper have been
discussed with and supported by many OpRisk practitioners and academics in
Australia, Europe, UK and USA, and recently at OpRisk Europe 2016 conference in
London
Hyperlipasemia in dogs with acute kidney injury treated with and without hemodialysis.
BACKGROUND
Hyperlipasemia has been reported in dogs with acute kidney injury (AKI) but associations with AKI severity, hemodialysis (HD) treatment, and outcome have not been extensively evaluated.
OBJECTIVES
Investigate the prevalence and clinical relevance of hyperlipasemia in dogs with AKI, treated with and without HD.
ANIMALS
Client-owned dogs (n = 125) with AKI.
METHODS
Retrospective data extraction from medical records, including signalment, cause of AKI, duration of hospitalization, survival, plasma creatinine concentration, and 1,2-o-dilauryl-rac-glycero-3-glutaric acid-(6'-methyresorufin) ester (DGGR) lipase activity at admission and throughout hospitalization.
RESULTS
A DGGR-lipase activity >3× the upper reference limit (URL) was found in 28.8% and 55.4% of dogs at admission and during hospitalization, respectively, but only 8.8% and 14.9% of dogs, respectively, were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Hyperlipasemia >10 × URL was observed in 32.7% of dogs during hospitalization. The DGGR-lipase activity was higher in dogs with International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) Grades 4-5 than Grades 1-3, but correlation between DGGR-lipase activity and creatinine concentration was poor (rs  = .22; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.04-0.38). Treatment with HD was not associated with DGGR-lipase activity independent of IRIS grade. Survival to discharge and 30 days after admission was 65.6% and 59.6%, respectively. High IRIS grades (P = .03) and high DGGR-lipase activity at admission (P = .02) and during hospitalization (P = .003) were associated with nonsurvival.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Hyperlipasemia is frequent and often marked in dogs with AKI despite only a minority being diagnosed with pancreatitis. Hyperlipasemia is associated with AKI severity but not independently with HD treatment. High IRIS grade and hyperlipasemia were associated with nonsurvival
Assessing influenza vaccination coverage and predictors in persons living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana, June 2002-June 2013.
Background: Despite the burden of disease and increased risk of influenza-associated morbidity and mortality among PLWHA, influenza vaccination has been understudied in this population.
Methods: We built an 11-year cohort of HIV-infected adults from medical records of PLWHA seeking care within the Louisiana State University medical system from June 2002-June 2013. Influenza vaccination uptake among PLWHA was calculated overall and for each medical facility for each influenza season. Linear regression was used to assess influenza vaccination uptake over time both overall and by facility. Data were restricted to the final influenza season (2012-13) to assess predictors of PLWHA vaccination. Individuals were nested within medical facilities in order to assess the amount of variability in influenza vaccination rates across medical facilities.
Results: Influenza vaccination uptake among PLWHA increased over the study period (p<0.01). The overall proportion of PLWHA vaccinated during the 2012-13 influenza season was 33.7%. 37.9% of the variability in the model occurred at the facility-level.
Conclusions: Although there was an increase in influenza vaccination within the PLWHA cohort over the course of the study, vaccination rates remained low overall. Special efforts must be made to increase vaccination uptake among PLWHA, with particular focus on those within the population who are likely to be at highest risk. The substantial variability at the facility-level indicates that there are unmeasured facility-level factors that contribute significantly to PLWHA vaccination. 
The mediating effects of barriers to vaccination on the relationship between race/ethnicity and influenza vaccination status in a rural Southeastern Louisiana medical center.
Introduction: Persistent disparities in influenza vaccination rates exist between racial/ethnic minorities and Whites. The mechanisms that define this relationship are under-researched.
Objectives: (1) To evaluate racial/ethnic disparities in influenza vaccination and (2) to assess the mediating effects of barriers to influenza vaccination on the relationship between race/ethnicity and receipt of influenza vaccination.
Methods: Surveys assessing barriers to vaccination were administered to outpatients in a rural medical center in Southeastern Louisiana. Survey responses were matched to patient medical records. Likert-style statements were used to measure barriers to vaccination.. A mediation analysis assessing the relationship between race and influenza vaccination mediated by vaccination barriers was conducted.
Results: The self-reported influenza vaccination rate in those surveyed was 40.4%. Whites (45.5%) were more likely than racial/ethnic minorities (36.3%) to report receipt of an influenza vaccination (p=0.02). Racial/ethnic minorities reported significantly higher vaccination barrier scores (p<0.01). The relationship between race/ethnicity and vaccination was mediated by vaccination barriers, when controlling for provider recommendation and having at least one comorbid medical condition (natural indirect effect [NIE] p-value=0.02, proportion mediated=0.71).
Conclusions: Barriers to vaccination mediates the relationship between race/ethnicity and vaccination status. Providers should focus on minimizing fears that the vaccine will cause illness and emphasize that the vaccine is safe and effective at preventing severe influenza-associated illness. Additional efforts should be made to improve accessibility of the influenza vaccine, including addressing costs of vaccination and expanding the number and types of settings where the vaccine is offered
The Relationship Between Social Vulnerability and COVID-19 Incidence Among Louisiana Census Tracts
Objective: To examine the association between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)\u27s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and COVID-19 incidence among Louisiana census tracts. Methods: An ecological study comparing the CDC SVI and census tract-level COVID-19 case counts was conducted. Choropleth maps were used to identify census tracts with high levels of both social vulnerability and COVID-19 incidence. Negative binomial regression with random intercepts was used to compare the relationship between overall CDC SVI percentile and its four sub-themes and COVID-19 incidence, adjusting for population density. Results: In a crude stratified analysis, all four CDC SVI sub-themes were significantly associated with COVID-19 incidence. Census tracts with higher levels of social vulnerability were associated with higher COVID-19 incidence after adjusting for population density (adjusted RR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.41-1.65). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that increased social vulnerability is linked with COVID-19 incidence. Additional resources should be allocated to areas of increased social disadvantage to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in vulnerable populations
ANSWER-Kommunal: Entwicklung eines standardisierten Analyse- und Ergebnisrasters für Wärmepläne zur Umsetzung der Energiewende im kommunalen Bereich
How common and frequent is heterosexual anal intercourse among South Africans? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND: HIV is transmitted more effectively during anal intercourse (AI) than vaginal intercourse (VI). However, patterns of heterosexual AI practice and its contribution to South Africa's generalized epidemic remain unclear. We aimed to determine how common and frequent heterosexual AI is in South Africa. METHODS: We searched for studies reporting the proportion practising heterosexual AI (prevalence) and/or the number of AI and unprotected AI (UAI) acts (frequency) in South Africa from 1990 to 2015. Stratified random-effects meta-analysis by sub-groups was used to produce pooled estimates and assess the influence of participant and study characteristics on AI prevalence. We also estimated the fraction of all sex acts which were AI or UAI and compared condom use during VI and AI. RESULTS: Of 41 included studies, 31 reported on AI prevalence and 14 on frequency, over various recall periods. AI prevalence was high across different recall periods for sexually active general-risk populations (e.g. lifetime = 18.4% [95%CI:9.4-27.5%], three-month = 20.3% [6.1-34.7%]), but tended to be even higher in higher-risk populations such as STI patients and female sex workers (e.g. lifetime = 23.2% [0.0-47.4%], recall period not stated = 40.1% [36.2-44.0%]). Prevalence was higher in studies using more confidential interview methods. Among general and higher-risk populations, 1.2-40.0% and 0.7-21.0% of all unprotected sex acts were UAI, respectively. AI acts were as likely to be condom protected as vaginal acts. CONCLUSION: Reported heterosexual AI is common but variable among South Africans. Nationally and regionally representative sexual behaviour studies that use standardized recall periods and confidential interview methods, to aid comparison across studies and minimize reporting bias, are needed. Such data could be used to estimate the extent to which AI contributes to South Africa's HIV epidemic
Validation of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS): Replication in the Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Body concealment is an important component of appearance distress for individuals with disfiguring conditions, including scleroderma. The objective was to replicate the validation study of the Body Concealment Scale for Scleroderma (BCSS) among 897 scleroderma patients. The factor structure of the BCSS was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis and the Multiple-Indicator Multiple-Cause model examined differential item functioning of SWAP items for sex and age. Internal consistency reliability was assessed via Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the BCSS with a measure of body image distress and measures of mental health and pain intensity. Results replicated the original validation study, where a bifactor model provided the best fit. The BCSS demonstrated strong internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Findings further support the BCSS as a valid measure of body concealment in scleroderma and provide new evidence that scores can be compared and combined across sexes and ages
Towards systemic change: on the co-creation and evaluation of a study programme in transformative sustainability science with stakeholders in Luxembourg
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