Drug policies in Argentina (2003-2015): Reflections on the struggle between the inherited and the reformulated

En el presente artículo proponemos analizar la forma en la que se han estructurado las políticas públicas destinadas a usuarios y consumidores de sustancias consideradas "drogas" en la larga década comprendida entre los años 2003 y 2015.Para ello, realizaremos un recorrido por los principales hitos que permiten hablar del "problema droga", revisaremos documentos públicos, legislación vigente, artículos periodísticos y bibliografía especializada, a fin de reflexionar en torno a las tensiones, contradicciones y heterogeneidades que se plantean en la legislación nacional argentina para abordar el consumo de sustancias catalogadas como ilegales. Caracterizaremos la vigencia de dos normativas tan disímiles como la Ley de Drogas N° 23.737 y la Ley de Salud Mental N° 26.657 como fruto de una larga pugna entre lo heredado y lo reformulado, aún no resuelta.In this article we propose to analyze the way in which public policies for people on situacion of drug use and adiction have been structured in the long decade between the years 2003 and 2015. We will make a tour of the main milestones which allow us to talk about the “drug problema”. We will review public documents, current legislation, journalistic articles and specialized bibliography, in order to reflect on the tensions, contradictions and heterogeneities that arise in argentine national legislation to address the consumption of ilegal substances. We will characterize the validity of two regulations as dissimilar as the Drug Law N° 23.737 and the Law of Mental Health N° 26.657 as the result of a long struggle between the inherited and the reformulated, not yet resolved.Fil: Llovera, Maria Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Humanidades y Artes. Centro Núcleo de Estudios del Trabajo y la Conflictividad Social; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Scialla, Marina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Humanidades y Artes. Escuela de Antropología; Argentin

Mindfulness Meditation and Flow State Experiences: Unlocking Human Potential

Mindfulness meditation (MM) and flow state experiences (FSE) share psychophysiological and behavioral parallels. Rarely presented are evidentiary resources on MM and FSE that explore the similarities and differences through research to fulfill gaps in knowledge. One study proposed that MM and FSE are inherently incompatible with each other and could not exist in concert. Coupled with the similarities found in the behavioral, psychological, and social aspects of MM and FSE was the need for immersion of participants in research that would test the relationship. The research conducted an interactive experiment where participants participated in a computer-driven reflex game. The participants meditated and replayed the game. Afterward, the participants completed a qualitative self-report survey based on their experience. The experiment conducted by this author filled gaps in the knowledge of MM and FSE, providing proof that these processes can be manifested by individuals and groups

Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden

An edible forest garden is a low-maintenance system that uses edible native and regionally-adapted plants arranged in beneficial relationships to meet human, wildlife and ecosystem needs. The forest garden in Roger Williams Park will transform underutilized urban land into a highly productive parcel producing market-viable fruits, nuts, vegetables, medicine and fiber. Forest gardens mimic natural forest systems in architecture and complexity. The design follows ecological principles to create a system that promotes biodiversity and enhances the surrounding ecosystem. This project also demonstrates the potential to grow food and create land-based livelihoods in the city. Located on the edge of a USDA-designated food desert in Providence\u27s lower south side, the Edible Forest Garden will supplement produce grown in the adjacent Roger Williams Park Community Garden. This increases the volume of fresh, locally produced food available to city-dwellers living in food insecure areas. The Edible Forest Garden will also serve as a living laboratory for environmental education opportunities. Through a partnership with URI Master Gardeners and community gardeners, residents will have the opportunity to actively participate in harvests and garden maintenance through a mentor program. The Edible Forest Garden design will draw upon sustainable land use practices rooted in generations of indigenous culture, coupled with the latest scientific data concerning agriculture, forestry and ecology. This union of time-tested methods and peer-reviewed inquiry is the foundation for the planning, design and implementation of the Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden. Simply put, an edible forest garden is our best attempt at designing an ecosystem based on the complexities and layers found in natural systems, only we choose the course of ecological succession

Fibroblast growth factor 23 is related to profiles indicating volume overload, poor therapy optimization and prognosis in patients with new-onset and worsening heart failure

Background: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 is a hormone that increases urinary phosphate excretion and regulates renal sodium reabsorption and plasma volume. We studied the role of plasma FGF23 in therapy optimization and outcomes in patients with new-onset and worsening heart failure (HF). Methods: We measured plasma C-terminal FGF23 levels at baseline in 2399 of the 2516 patients included in the BIOlogy Study to Tailored Treatment in Chronic HF (BIOSTAT-CHF) trial. The association between FGF23 and outcome was evaluated by Cox regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Median FGF23 was 218.0 [IQR: 117.1–579.3] RU/ml; patients with higher FGF23 levels had a worse NYHA class, more signs of congestion, and were less likely to use an ACE-inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs) at baseline (all P < 0.01). Higher FGF23 levels were independently associated with higher BNP, lower eGFR, the presence of oedema and atrial fibrillation (all P < 0.001). In addition, higher FGF23 was independently associated with impaired uptitration of ACEi/ARBs after 3 months, but not of beta-blockers. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, FGF23 was independently associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.17 (1.09–1.26) per log increase, P < 0.001), and the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization (1.15 (1.08–1.22) per log increase, P < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with new-onset and worsening HF, higher plasma FGF23 levels were independently associated with volume overload, less successful uptitration of ACEi/ARBs and an increased risk of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization

The interplay between diversity and noise in an excitable cell network model

We study the interplay between diversity and noise in a 3D network of FitzHugh-Nagumo elements, with topology and dimensions chosen to model a pancreatic beta-cell cluster, as an example of an excitable cell network. Our results show that diversity and noise are not equivalent sources of disorder but have different effects on network dynamics. Their synchronization mechanisms may act independently of one another or synergistically, depending on the mean value of the diversity distribution compared to the intrinsic oscillatory range of the network elements.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Serum osteoprotegerin is associated with pulse pressure in kidney transplant recipients

Pulse pressure (PP) reflects increased large artery stiffness, which is caused, in part, by arterial calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease. PP has been shown to predict both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in various patient populations, including kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a marker and regulator of arterial calcification, and it is related to cardiovascular survival in hemodialysis patients. Here we tested the hypothesis that OPG is associated with increased pulse pressure. We cross-sectionally analyzed the association between serum OPG and PP in a prevalent cohort of 969 KTX patients (mean age: 51 +/- 13 years, 57% male, 21% diabetics, mean eGFR 51 +/- 20 ml/min/1.73 m2). Independent associations were tested in a linear regression model adjusted for multiple covariables. PP was positively correlated with serum OPG (rho = 0.284, p < 0.001). Additionally, a positive correlation was seen between PP versus age (r = 0.358, p < 0.001), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (r = 0.232, p < 0.001), serum glucose (r = 0.172, p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.133, p = 0.001) and serum cholesterol (r = 0.094, p = 0.003). PP was negatively correlated with serum Ca, albumin and eGFR. The association between PP and OPG remained significant after adjusting for multiple potentially relevant covariables (beta = 0.143, p < 0.001). We conclude that serum OPG is independently associated with pulse pressure in kidney transplant recipients

A Study of Ferruccio Busoni\u27s Transcriptions of Six Organ Chorale Preludes by Johannes Brahms.

Ferruccio Busoni\u27s piano arrangements of six of Brahms\u27s Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, are among the least known of his transcriptions. Published in 1897, they have remained overshadowed by his more popular transcriptions of the organ works of Bach. Maurice Hinson stated that Busoni arranged some of the most pianistic of the set ; continuing, Hinson observed that problems encountered in the originals, such as bringing out inner voices and achieving a satisfactory legato, are more easily solved on the piano.\sp1. Referring to Busoni\u27s own writings on transcribing as found in the appendices to his edition of Bach\u27s Well-Tempered Clavier, this monograph examines Busoni\u27s transcriptions of six organ chorale preludes by Brahms, focusing on: (1) the adaptation of a work written for two manuals and pedals to the single keyboard of the piano, considering: (a) organ pedals; (b) doubling; (c) dynamics; (2) the pianistic treatment of organ registration, concerning: (a) texture; (b) voicing; (c) use of piano pedals. The study of these arrangements reveals that there are certain devices which Busoni consistently applies to achieve the organ effect while attempting to remedy the problems encountered in the transcription process. The six chorale preludes which Busoni chose to arrange can be divided into two types: Three of the settings have a contrapuntal texture and a constantly moving accompaniment--these are discussed in Chapter Two, following a brief introductory chapter; the remaining three are homophonic in texture and are discussed in Chapter Three. Chapter Four will summarize the observations made in Chapters Two and Three and includes information derived from Busoni\u27s writings about the process of transcribing organ works for the piano. ftn\sp1Maurice Hinson, The Pianist\u27s Guide to Transcriptions, Arrangements, and Paraphrases, (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990), 29

Patterns in blood pressure medication use in US incident dialysis patients over the first 6 months.

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies have evaluated the effect of a single exposure window with blood pressure (BP) medications on outcomes in incident dialysis patients, but whether BP medication prescription patterns remain stable or a single exposure window design is adequate to evaluate effect on outcomes is unclear. METHODS: We described patterns of BP medication prescription over 6 months after dialysis initiation in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, stratified by cardiovascular comorbidity, diabetes, and other patient characteristics. The cohort included 13,072 adult patients (12,159 hemodialysis, 913 peritoneal dialysis) who initiated dialysis in Dialysis Clinic, Inc., facilities January 1, 2003-June 30, 2008, and remained on the original modality for at least 6 months. We evaluated monthly patterns in BP medication prescription over 6 months and at 12 and 24 months after initiation. RESULTS: Prescription patterns varied by dialysis modality over the first 6 months; substantial proportions of patients with prescriptions for beta-blockers, renin angiotensin system agents, and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in month 6 no longer had prescriptions for these medications by month 24. Prescription of specific medication classes varied by comorbidity, race/ethnicity, and age, but little by sex. The mean number of medications was 2.5 at month 6 in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluates BP medication patterns in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients over the first 6 months of dialysis. Our findings highlight the challenges of assessing comparative effectiveness of a single BP medication class in dialysis patients. Longitudinal designs should be used to account for changes in BP medication management over time, and designs that incorporate common combinations should be considered

Pedagogical practices of a guru teaching an Indian music ensemble in the United States

The purpose of this study was to examine pedagogical practices of an Indian music professor, or guru, who teaches an Indian music ensemble in a United States institution of higher learning. The role of the world music professor has been refined and redefined over the last decade. The guru-shishya paramparā system of teaching has reached a crossroad; new conditions challenge this approach. The focus of this study was to investigate, through the lens of the guru, tensions that exist between Indian pedagogy and Western pedagogy. The research design was a single-case ethnographic study that utilized participant observation in an Indian music ensemble class. I expanded Schippers’s (2009) Twelve Continuum Transmission Framework by adding aesthetics to the continuum of the framework. I used this framework as a tool to examine Indian music transmission, through a distinct pedagogical viewpoint of a guru leading a non-Western music ensemble. In this study I noted factors that influence world music transmission in Indian music education at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School. Information regarding attitudes and the reasons for certain pedagogical practices in Indian music education can provide insight to ensemble instructors and to administrators interested in building Indian music programs. This research has implications outside of Indian music education and for music department directors interested in expanding music programs

Trends in anemia management in US hemodialysis patients 2004-2010.

BACKGROUND: There have been major changes in the management of anemia in US hemodialysis patients in recent years. We sought to determine the influence of clinical trial results, safety regulations, and changes in reimbursement policy on practice. METHODS: We examined indicators of anemia management among incident and prevalent hemodialysis patients from a medium-sized dialysis provider over three time periods: (1) 2004 to 2006 (2) 2007 to 2009, and (3) 2010. Trends across the three time periods were compared using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Prior to 2007, the median proportion of patients with monthly hemoglobin >12 g/dL for patients on dialysis 0 to 3, 4 to 6 and 7 to 18 months, respectively, was 42%, 55% and 46% declined to 41%, 54%, and 40% after 2007, and declined more sharply in 2010 to 34%, 41%, and 30%. Median weekly Epoeitin alpha doses over the same periods were 18,000, 12,400, and 9,100 units before 2007; remained relatively unchanged from 2007 to 2009; and decreased sharply in the patients 3-6 and 6-18 months on dialysis to 10,200 and 7,800 units, respectively in 2010. Iron doses, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation levels increased over time with more pronounced increases in 2010. CONCLUSION: Modest changes in anemia management occurred between 2007 and 2009, followed by more dramatic changes in 2010. Studies are needed to examine the effects of declining erythropoietin use and hemoglobin levels and increasing intravenous iron use on quality of life, transplantation rates, infection rates and survival