Clear Opinion Research Articles

Diversidade nas pautas jornalísticas

Este artigo apresenta os resultados da etapa quantitativa da pesquisa A produção de notícias a partir das periferias de São Paulo: perfil, rotinas e novas configurações do trabalho jornalístico, cujo objetivo era investigar o perfil dos jornalistas que produzem informação a partir e sobre a periferia de São Paulo em novos arranjos econômicos alternativos (Figaro; Nonato, 2017). Para cumprir esse objetivo, faz uma breve reflexão sobre a falta de pluralidade da mídia brasileira, analisa as aproximações e diferenças entre jornalismo local, comunitário, contra hegemônico e periférico e apresenta a metodologia adotada para a pesquisa. Como resultados iniciais, verificamos que os jornalistas são jovens, estão há pouco mais de cinco anos na profissão e não têm uma opinião clara a respeito do conceito de jornalismo periférico.

Modern view on treatment of membranous nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Since the moment of animal model creation and the recognition of podocytes damage as a key mechanism of MN development, the identification of antigens, first of all the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), and the development of methods of PLA2R autoantibodies detection and its monitoring opened a new era in the idiopathic MN (iMN) diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation. MN continues to be actively studied in the new millennium, since a number of aspects of its pathogenesis still need to be clarified, and there is still no clear opinion on the iMN treatment optimal approach. Comprehensive clinical and serological assessment of patients with iMN can be the key to individual choice of treatment protocols. In patients with aPLA2R-positive iMN, the predictor of disease remission is the aPLA2R titer decrease or aPLA2R disappearance in the blood serum, and disease relapse is associated with the aPLA2R appearance ore increase of aPLA2R titer in the circulation. Studies which were conducted by today (GEMRITUX, MENTOR, STARMEN, NICE, etc.) confirmed the acceptable safety profile and effectiveness of iMN therapy by anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab): more than half of of iMN patients had remission of nephrotic syndrome or proteinuria decrease, remissions in anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies treated patients were longer compared to traditional therapy. The obtained data allows us to consider rituximab and anti-CD20 antibody therapy of a new generation not only as an alternative to the more toxic treatment with cyclophosphane and calcineurin inhibitors, but as an independent promising direction of therapy for patients with IMN, which completely changes the paradigm of treatment of this glomerulopathy.

The attitude of kidney transplant recipients towards elective arteriovenous fistula ligation.

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) are a source of various complications. Among previously hemodialyzed kidney transplant recipients (KTxR), the AVF may persist over time. The patients' decisions whether to ligate the functioning AVF may be prompted by many factors. Our knowledge of benefits concerning the procedure as well as patients' attitude towards it is scarce. Evaluation of the patients' opinion on the persistent AVF ligation after a successful kidney transplantation. An anonymous survey was carried out among 301 previously hemodialyzed KTxR. The patients were recruited during scheduled visits in the Transplantation Outpatient Unit. All subjects completed an anonymous questionnaire including questions about their attitude towards the matter in question. 69 patients (22.9%) have considered AVF closure. The most common causes for such attitude were esthetic reasons (n = 29) and concerns about heart health (n = 13). Among those 69 subjects, 18 have presented with symptomatic AVF due to multiple symptoms. Symptomatic AVFs were localized on the forearm in 14 out of 18 cases. As many as 116 (38.5%) cases have never wanted to ligate the AVF and 116 (38.5%) subjects did not have a clear opinion. In our study we report 158 (52.5%) cases of non-functioning AVFs. The main reason for the above was spontaneous AVF thrombosis (121 cases). Only 24 subjects reported to rely on the physician-provided information about the AVF management. One fourth of KTRs have ever considered AVF ligation. There is a distinct need for educating patients on the possibilities of post-transplantation AVF management.

On the characterization procedure to quantify the contribution of microstructure on mechanical properties in intercritically deformed low carbon HSLA steels

The mechanical properties of intercritically rolled microstructures have been scarcely reported in literature. Although the strengthening effect of intercritical rolling is generally recognized, there is no a clear opinion on its effect on toughness. Therefore, a greater knowledge of how different process parameters affect the mechanical properties during intercritical deformation is required. With the aim of evaluating the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties on intercritically deformed low carbon steels, plane strain compression tests were carried out. Plane strain compression tests allow for both the characterization of the microstructural features and the evaluation of mechanical properties, via tensile and Charpy tests. Firstly, the intercritically deformed microstructures were characterized using the EBSD technique, and then a discretization methodology was used to distinguish both intercritically deformed and non-deformed ferrite populations. Next, strength and toughness properties were measured by means of tensile and Charpy tests. The results indicate that the reduction of the deformation temperature leads to an increment of yield strength for both steels, but at the same time toughness properties worsen. Deformed ferrite fractions higher than 25% result in a very pronounced loss of ductility. The yield strength was predicted by estimating the contribution of different strengthening mechanisms (solid solution, grain size refinement, dislocation density) corresponding to each ferrite population by considering a nonlinear law of mixtures. Similarly, the impact of different microstructural parameters (solid solution, grain size, microstructural heterogeneity, contribution of dislocation density and secondary phases) on toughness was evaluated and a new equation able to predict ductile to brittle transition temperature for intercritically deformed microstructures was developed.

DEBTOR RATING AS A TOOL OF DEBT MANAGEMENT

IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” introduced a new model of impairment based on expected credit losses, in which the impairment is based on expected credit losses, and the provision for losses is recognized before the credit loss, i.e. companies recognize losses immediately after initial recognition of the financial asset and revise the amount of the provision for expected credit losses at the reporting date. To create a provision for credit losses, IFRS 9 allows using several practical tools, including the rating debtors’ method. However, IFRS 9 does not express a clear opinion on how the expected credit loss for receivables should be calculated. In this regard, in our opinion, it is possible to apply an individual approach to the choice of credit risk assessment method, determining the debtor’s credit rating and the choice of the default probability, and so on. The paper substantiates that the debtors’ rating by the level of corporate default risk is a method that can reliably assess the probable risks. This method uses credit ratings. The paper proposes using the international credit ratings, which will allow a more objective creditworthiness assessment of both foreign and domestic debtors, taking into account macroeconomic factors used by rating agencies to determine the class of credit risk. The article presents the credit rating of Ukraine and changes in the credit rating of Ukraine for 15 years (2004-2019), shows the model of applying the international default probability rates. Two variants of applying this model are offered. Under the first option, the total amount of receivables from the counterparty / group of debtors is multiplied by the percentage of default probability. The second option involves applying the selected ratio according to the credit rating class at the last stage of calculating the expected credit losses by the simplified method. Due to the fact that there is no single approach to choosing the probability of default and everything relies on expert opinion, we propose using the data of the Annual Global Corporate Default And Rating, which is an analysis of market conditions in the world, the corporate defaults overview, the coefficient of bankruptcy probability of economic entities for each of the risk groups. The paper proposes using the annual rate of corporate defaults, as the expected credit losses must be calculated by companies on a regular basis and revalued at least once a year (on the balance sheet date). It is substantiated that the use of the average rate (Average Rate) to assess the probability of default, it is this rate that takes into account the past experience of companies that are in the corresponding zone of default risk for all the periods under consideration.

To Ligate or Not to Ligate: A Meta-analysis of Cardiac Effects and Allograft Function following Arteriovenous Fistula Closure in Renal Transplant Recipients

There are no available guidelines regarding preserving or ligating an arteriovenous fistula following successful kidney transplantation. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to formulate a clear opinion regarding the status of arteriovenous fistula in renal allograft recipients. We performed an electronic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for eligible studies up to January 2019. We aimed to systematically evaluate cardiac systolic and diastolic function and allograft function after arteriovenous fistula closure. The primary outcome was the differences in left ventricular mass index, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, ejection fraction, and serum creatinine levels between patients with occluded arteriovenous fistula versus patent arteriovenous fistula. Renal transplant recipients with occluded arteriovenous fistula had lower left ventricular mass index values and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter compared with those with patent arteriovenous fistula. The pooled mean differences were 21.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 19.94 to 23.39, P<0.001) and 2.75 (95% CI 1.47 to 4.04, P<0.001), respectively. Patients with occluded arteriovenous fistula also had lower serum creatinine levels versus those with patent arteriovenous fistula. The pooled mean difference was 0.10 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.17, P=0.003). We saw no difference regarding ejection fraction between the groups. The pooled mean difference was 0.84 (95% CI -0.85 to 2.53, P=0.33). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that arteriovenous fistula closure improves cardiac morphology and has better kidney graft function. Arteriovenous fistula closure may be considered in patients with a well-functioning allograft.

Halal Criteria Versus Conventional Slaughter Technology.

Simple SummaryWhile legislation can be implemented, amended or revoked according to the requirements of a given time period, this is very difficult or even impossible with religious laws due to their sanctity. Faithful Muslims believe in the sanctity of the main Islamic laws (Quran and Hadiths) because, according to them, they originated from heavenly and divine sources (God and his prophet Muhammad). The technological means of the meat industry are constantly evolving to meet the requirements of the present day and may sometimes be inconsistent with ancient religious norms. Recently, greater attention has been paid to the halal meat industry due to the increased size of the Muslim community in Europe; the opportunity of producing and exporting meat and meat products to the Islamic world; and the ease of delivery, trade and transport. The purpose of this study is to highlight some of the controversial aspects of modern technological means and the principles of the halal meat industry. The controversial aspects that this study deals with include the practices of modern slaughter (animal fasting prior to slaughter, the animal’s body position during slaughter, the location of the incision during bleeding, stunning and mechanical slaughtering). This review may contribute to raising awareness among producers and consumers and to finding means of technology compatible with halal criteria.The halal meat industry is today a reality in many regions of the world, including the European Union. The main religious laws in the area of halal meat production were legislated in ancient times and may be unchangeable due to their sanctity perceived by faithful Muslims, while the modern technology used in the meat industry is constantly evolving and being updated. The objective of this study is to highlight the points of controversy between the principles of halal and the technological means currently used in the meat industry. Modern slaughter practices, including animal fasting prior to slaughter, animal body position, the location of the incision during slaughter, stunning and mechanical slaughter, are reviewed. The purpose of preslaughter feed availability according to halal criteria could be to ensure greater welfare for animals, though feed withdrawal is necessary today. Although there is no clear unified opinion among the Islamic sects, reversible stunning of animals is generally accepted. A neck cut at a higher position than the conventional low cut in cattle may reduce the compromise in welfare (the onset of unconsciousness), minimise false aneurysm and be compatible with halal criteria. This study may contribute towards consideration being given to technology that is not in conflict with the religious legislation, while at the same time meeting the requirements of the modern meat industry.

Privačių ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadovų kompetencijų svarba: suinteresuotųjų šalių analizė

Privačių ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų vadyba dar menkai tyrinėta, todėl nėra žinoma, kokių kompetencijų vadovas būtų tinkamiausias tokio tipo įstaigoms, kokio vadovo pageidautų svarbiausios suinteresuotosios šalys, kaip jos vertina vadovui reikalingas kompetencijas.Empiriniu tyrimu palyginamas svarbiausių privačių ikimokyklinio ugdymo įstaigų suinteresuotųjų šalių – steigėjų, vadovų, darbuotojų ir tėvų (tiek esamų, tiek potencialių klientų) – požiūris į teorinį vadovo kompetencijų modelį.Apibendrintas modelio rangavimas rodo, kad svarbiausia vadovo kompetencijų grupe yra laikytinas, visų pirma, vadovo gebėjimas kurti pasitikėjimą.

Financial Integration and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from the Republic of Georgia

Despite the vast amount of research studies, there is no clear and unambiguous opinion among economists on how the international financial integration (IFI) affects economic growth. This paper attempts to investigate the relationship between financial integration and economic growth in the Republic of Georgia. The study employs a log-linear equation for economic growth and covers the time-series data over the period of 1995–2016. OLS estimations do not provide statistically significant evidence for IFI-growth relationship. However, although the significance of this linkage is not apparent, it is important to highlight the main tendency – financial integration plays a positive role when the country has a relatively stable currency and negative role during the period of significant currency fluctuations. Outcomes of the study are consistent with our theory and support prior researches in this area.Keywords: Financial integration; economic growth; empirical model

SOME REMARKS ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF HUMAN EMBRYO

There is no unified position as regards the legal status of the embryo in Europe. Most International laws discard the possibility of recognising an absolute right to life to an embryo or foetus. The European Court of Human Rights had several occasions to consider, and express itself on this question, but has always avoided giving a clear opinion - leaving open the question of whether Art. 2 ECHR also covers life before birth. In the recent Parillo case it has been noted that it raises sensitive moral and ethical issues with a wide margin of appreciation for the States. Although there is no European consensus on the subject, it seems that in the 21 st century, the human embryo begins to enjoy a gradual protection and in some situations the law acknowledges some rights associated with it.

SOME REMARKS ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF HUMAN EMBRYO

There is no unified position as regards the legal status of the embryo in Europe. Most International laws discard the possibility of recognising an absolute right to life to an embryo or foetus. The European Court of Human Rights had several occasions to consider, and express itself on this question, but has always avoided giving a clear opinion - leaving open the question of whether Art. 2 ECHR also covers life before birth. In the recent Parillo case it has been noted that it raises sensitive moral and ethical issues with a wide margin of appreciation for the States. Although there is no European consensus on the subject, it seems that in the 21 st century, the human embryo begins to enjoy a gradual protection and in some situations the law acknowledges some rights associated with it.

Insulin resistance indexes in women with premature ovarian insufficiency - a pilot study.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is associated with hypoestrogenism and an increased risk of metabolic disorders. In many clinics, a variety of insulin resistance (IR) tests are used during routine clinical assessments. To date, there is no clear opinion about which of these tests should be applied in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Therefore, our preliminarily aim was to compare the most frequently used insulin resistance indexes in the clinical assessment of a group of POI women and a control group. Our retrospective study included 98 women with karyotypically normal spontaneous POI aged 18-39 years and a control group of 78 healthy women. Each patient was given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to evaluate their insulin release and insulin resistance. In addition, each woman's insulin resistance (IR) was evaluated us-ing the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), the fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio (FGIR), and Matsuda and McAuley indexes. The two groups' glucose levels were compared at 0, 60 and 120 min of the OGTT. At 0 and 60 min of the OGTT, the insulin levels of the POI women were significantly higher than those of the control group. The number of women in whom IR was detected using the various kits was comparable between the two groups. In conclusion, only the OGTT evaluation revealed a significant difference in insulin concentrations between the two study groups. The indexes most commonly used to detect IR did not detect differences in IR between the POI women and the members of the healthy control group. QUICKI detected significantly more women with IR within both study groups than other tests did.

Mengurai Wacana Sastra Hibrida: Sebuah Istilah Popularitas Sastra

This article entitled “Mengurai Wacana Sastra Hibrida: Sebuah Istilah Popularitas Sastra” aims to present viewpoint for an interpretative of theoretical application to understandings of decomposing discourse on hybrid literature phenomenon. The discussion of this article is in the form of theoretical description, findings, and other researchs substance obtained from any references to be the bases of research activity to compile a clear opinion framework of problem statement, which is going to be tested. The theories are in the form of literary history from the old English to the modern English period, the findings are in the form of facts of hybridity and hybrid literature, also other research substances are in the form of summary of hybridity discourses in online media

Ask Me No Questions and I Will Tell You No Lies: The Insignificance of Leidos before the United States Supreme Court

What if the Supreme Court issued an opinion and no one cared? No one cared who won or lost. No one cared how the question presented was resolved. The prevailing party wouldn’t gain a cent from its victory and the losing party wouldn’t suffer one whit from its loss. Leidos, Inc. v. Indiana Public Retirement System, now pending before the Supreme Court, could be just that sort of case. Leidos asks whether a “pure omission,” an omission that does not render an affirmative statement false or misleading, is actionable under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. With so much affirmative mandatory and voluntary disclosure in the public domain it is trivially easy for plaintiffs to allege that material omissions create half-truths that are fully actionable under established precedent. Half-truths expose defendants to liability identical to that arising from corresponding pure omission claims, and it makes no meaningful difference whether pure omissions are actionable as omissions or as half-truths. Leidos itself proves the point: there, a single omission causes an affirmative statement to become misleading and is also alleged as a “pure omission.” Leidos will be remanded to resolve the half-truth claim and, on remand, the probability that Leidos will be dismissed, and the amount for which Leidos settles if not dismissed, will not be materially affected by the Supreme Court’s decision. This is not to suggest that certiorari has been improvidently granted. There is virtue in semantic consistency. A clear opinion describing the scope of liability, if any, for pure omissions will contribute to judicial efficiency by eliminating complex briefing over rhetorical distinctions that don’t move the liability needle. As for the doctrinal question presented, the better interpretation of the law is that the relevant text, history, and precedent do not support Rule 10b-5 liability for pure omissions. A decision to the contrary would create substantial tension with Supreme Court precedent and generate unnecessary confusion over the application of the most important civil liability provision of the federal securities laws. The article also examines the potential for pure omission liability arising from the Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 certification and concludes that neither the Commission nor private parties are likely to prevail on such a claim.

Rapid sociometric mapping of community health workers to identify opinion leaders using an SMS platform: a short report

BackgroundUsing opinion leaders to accelerate the dissemination of evidence-based public health practices is a promising strategy for closing the gap between evidence and practice. Network interventions (using social network data to accelerate behavior change or improve organizational performance) are a promising but under-explored strategy. We aimed to use mobile phone technology to rapidly and inexpensively map a social network and identify opinion leaders among community health workers in a large HIV program in western Kenya.MethodsWe administered a five-item socio-metric survey to community health workers using a mobile phone short message service (SMS)-based questionnaire. We used the survey results to construct and characterize a social network of opinion leaders among respondents. We calculated the extent to which a particular respondent was a popular point of reference (“degree centrality”) and the influence of a respondent within the network (“eigenvector centrality”).ResultsSurveys were returned by 38/39 (97%) of peer health workers contacted; 52% were female. The median survey response time was 13.75 min (inter-quartile range, 8.8–38.7). The total cost of relaying survey questions through a secure cloud-based SMS aggregator was $8.46. The most connected individuals (high degree centrality) were also the most influential (high eigenvector centrality). The distribution of influence (eigenvector centrality) was highly skewed in favor of a single influential individual at each site.ConclusionsLeveraging increasing access to SMS technology, we mapped the network of influence among community health workers associated with a HIV treatment program in Kenya. Survey uptake was high, response rates were rapid, and the survey identified clear opinion leaders. In sum, we offer proof of concept that a “mobile health” (mHealth) approach can be used in resource-limited settings to efficiently map opinion leadership among health care workers and thus open the door to reproducible, feasible, and efficient empirically based network interventions that seek to spread novel practices and behaviors among health care workers.

Do Skirts on Board Impact Figures in Books?

After the financial crisis of 2007, a wave of discussion started that who sits on board is a critical factor in deciding the success and failure of a company. Research has found links between diverse boards and its positive effects on board inputs (Daniel Ferreira). Countries have rigorously passed laws and legislations without considering the fact there a complex relationship between women on board and performance and several other factors are needed to consider before making a strong assumption. The perceived importance of gender equality in board rooms (Nielson & Huse, 2010) do not points towards a clear opinion on whether gender equality in boardrooms will definitely yield better economic results (Hamdani & Buckley, 2010; Jonas Vob, 2015). A data for FTSE 100 companies was analyzed from 2006-2012 using Random Effects regression model. The results of this research does not support the business case of higher gender diversity for higher profits. This does not imply gender diversity should not be promoted. It is good to have gender diverse boards because of the positive behavioral impact they create on overall environment of an organization. Higher representation of women on board might not relate to the higher profits but diversified boards are critical in better decision making because of the benefit of diverse perspectives’. Equality should be promoted in work environment for ethical reasons and everyone should get a chance to make it to the top level if they are good enough.

Evaluating a Group of Medical School Students’ Opinions in Terms of Quality

The special importance medical education has among sectors is universal, and its most important expectation is to fulfill a certain quality of standards that contribute to its basic universal perfectionism. The aim of our study is to evaluate medical students’ expectations from medical education and how these expectations are realized within the academic process in terms of quality and standards. The universe of the study consists of 230 students. The students were asked two open-ended questions in order to understand what they had expected after successfully passing the student selection and placement system exam (OSYS) and whether their expectations had been fulfilled or not. In summarizing the data frequency, averages, standard deviation, and mean were used; the t-test was used to compare student data, with p < .05 assumed as statistically significant. In our study, 116 (41.4% female, 58.6% male) students were accessed between the ages of 20-28 (average age = 22.12, SD = 1.43). Their score average for the OSYS is 501.85 (SD = 11.85). Their native regions are the Mediterranean (54.3%) and southeastern Anatolia (28.4%). As far as quality standards, 70 students (60.3%) stated having expectations about their profession’s features. Fifty percent stated their expectations had been fulfilled, 35 (30.2%) stated their expectations had not been fulfilled, and 23 (19.8%) did not state a clear opinion. The OSYS average score for students who stated their expectations had been fulfilled is found to be lower than the average score of those who stated their expectations had not been fulfilled. (p = .00). In our study, we observed students to have expectations about post-graduation, the academic process, and social environment in terms of the quality of standards in medical education. As a result, increasing students’ knowledge levels on quality is thought able to develop their expectations positively and contribute to the quality of medical education.

Visible-light photocatalysis in CdTe nanoflakes with exposed {111} facets and charge separation between polar CdTe {111}surfaces

The search for active semiconductor photocatalysts that can utilize adequately solar-energy remains to be an open issue. CdTe nanoflakes and nanowires with a range of texture coefficients of (111) have been synthesized. Photocatalytic activities of the CdTe nanocrystals in degradation of malachite green, methyl orange, acid red 88 and ciprofloxacin can be enhanced by increasing the texture coefficients of (111) and reducing texture coefficient of (220). The exposed polar {111} facets were found to be the active facets, and a charge separation model between polar Cd-CdTe (111) and Te-CdTe (1¯1¯1¯) surfaces is proposed. An internal electric field is created between polar Cd-CdTe (111) and Te-CdTe (1¯1¯1¯) surfaces by the spontaneous polarization, and the internal electric field drives separation of the photoinduced electrons and holes. Therefore, the CdTe nanoflakes with exposed polar {111} facets synthesized by using oleylamine as a morphology controlling agent show superior photocatalytic activity, compared with CdTe nanowires, nanocrystals with irregular shapes and commercial powders as well as CdS branched nanostructures. The charge separation model provides a clear opinion into charge transfer in the semiconductor nanocrystals with exposed active facets, and affords guidance to design more effective photocatalysts, solar cells and other photoelectronic devices.

Orestov sindrom

Since the beginnings, the theater is often used for expressions of philosophical thought in the form of direct dialog. With theatrical positions must be concluded that the theater often play a part stands for para-theater operations and assigned to the limit when it became unclear whether this is a theater in general. However, the debate 'for' or 'against' engaged theater looks today more than out of place, since both have a clear opinion confirming the history of theater. If we look at the numerous theories of drama from a wider perspective, the perspective of the media, we immediately see that the theater aesthetics rests on the principles of mass communication, collective perceptions, interactions of the world scene and world audience and evoking event theater professionals can not speak and not to speak, simultaniosly, about the world, society, the collective. It is clear that the dramatic literature has directly or indirectly involved, the nature of its invoices and creative means of expression.

Functionality of High-Density Lipoprotein as Antiatherosclerotic Therapeutic Target.

A great majority of the morbidity and mortality worldwide can still be attributed to cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic (coronary) heart disease, angina pectoris, and myocardial and cerebral infarction. Atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries because of arterial cholesterol deposition in macrophage foam cells, is the driving force behind the cardiovascular disease pathology. Water-soluble protein/lipid complexes called lipoproteins mediate the transport of cholesterol and other lipoid substances through the blood compartment. Relatively high levels of cholesterol associated with apolipoprotein B–containing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles predispose human subjects to the development of atherosclerosis and, thereby, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease.1,2 Apolipoprotein B–containing lipoproteins are, therefore, generally regarded as being proatherogenic factors. Cholesterol ester–rich high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles use apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) as their primary protein component. In sharp contrast to LDL, HDL is considered a potent anti-atherogenic agent. This notion is based on the fact that, in the general population, a strong inverse correlation exists between plasma levels of HDL cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular disease.1 Of note, this inverse association seems to be independent of the level of cholesterol associated with proatherogenic LDL particles. As such, increasing plasma levels of HDL cholesterol has long been regarded a promising alternative therapy to supplement classical statin–based LDL cholesterol–lowering strategies that are able to reduce cardiovascular disease by only ≈30%.3 However, over the last decade, the enthusiasm for HDL as an interesting therapeutic target has been challenged by the HDL hypothesis critics because genetic association studies have excluded HDL cholesterol levels as determinants for cardiovascular disease risk.2,4 Furthermore, several therapeutic HDL-targeting approaches have proven insufficient to secure benefit for cardiovascular disease patients. Niacin is the most effective drug available in the clinic to raise plasma HDL cholesterol levels. Despite the fact that niacin is …