bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lake-Effect Mode and Precipitation Enhancement over the Tug Hill Plateau during OWLeS IOP2b
Authors: Campbell Leah S. , Steenburgh W. James , Veals Peter G. , Letcher Theodore W. , Minder Justin R.
Published: February 2016

Improved understanding of the influence of orography on lake-effect storms is crucial for weather forecasting in many lake-effect regions. The Tug Hill Plateau of northern New York (hereafter Tug Hill), rising 500 m above eastern Lake Ontario, experiences some of the most intense snowstorms in the world. Herein the authors investigate the enhancement of lake-effect snowfall over Tug Hill during IOP2b of the Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign. During the 24-h study period, total liquid precipitation equivalent along the axis of maximum precipitation increased from 33.5 mm at a lowland (145 m MSL) site to 62.5 mm at an upland (385 m MSL) site, the latter yielding 101.5 cm of snow. However, the ratio of upland to lowland precipitation, or orographic ratio, varied with the mode of lake-effect precipitation. Strongly organized long-lake-axis parallel bands, some of which formed in association with the approach or passage of upper-level short-wave troughs, produced the highest precipitation rates but the smallest orographic ratios. Within these bands, radar echoes were deepest and strongest over Lake Ontario and the coastal lowlands and decreased in depth and median intensity over Tug Hill. In contrast, nonbanded broad-coverage periods exhibited the smallest precipitation rates and the largest orographic ratios, the latter reflecting an increase in the coverage and frequency of radar echoes over Tug Hill. These findings should aid operational forecasts and, given the predominance of broad-coverage lake-effect periods during the cool season, help explain the climatological snowfall maximum found over the Tug Hill Plateau.
Extending critical performativity
Authors: Spicer André , Alvesson Mats , Kärreman Dan
Published: February 2016

In this article we extend the debate about critical performativity. We begin by outlining the basic tenets of critical performativity and how this has been applied in the study of management and organization. We then address recent critiques of critical performance. We note these arguments suffer from an undue focus on intra-academic debates; engage in author-itarian theoretical policing; feign relevance through symbolic radicalism; and repackage common sense. We take these critiques as an opportunity to offer an extended model of critical performativity that involves focusing on issues of public importance; engaging with non-academic groups using dialectical reasoning; scaling up insights through movement building; and propagating deliberation.
Does Anyone Care about the Poor? The Role of Redistribution in Mayoral Policy Agendas
Authors: Leckrone J. Wesley , Atherton Michelle , Crossey Nicole , Stickley Andrea , Rubado Meghan E.
Published: February 2016

Income inequality is widening in the United States, particularly in large cities. This study analyzes whether mayors address this issue through redistributive policies or economic development. State of the City addresses from 45 of the 50 largest cities were examined using the Policy Agendas framework. The findings show that mayors favor economic development over redistribution. There is no evidence that demographic characteristics of cities affect a mayor’s attention to social welfare programs. Mayors focusing on economic development come from poorer and more conservative cities. A large negative effect is found on economic development attention for segregated and highly nonwhite cities.
The Impact of Economic Development Strategy on Market Conditioned Income Inequality in the American States
Authors: Young Sarah L.
Published: February 2016

Langer found that the supply-side (locational) development policy increased income inequality in the American states, while demand-side (entrepreneurial) policy decreased inequality. Recent scholarship emphasizes the impact of unionization on state inequality. This analysis examines economic development policy and unionization in the same model. Using time series data (1983–2004) with an error correction model, it finds that entrepreneurial activism is associated with rising state inequality, while locational activism has no significant relationship. Additionally, entrepreneurial policy exerts a positive impact on inequality as union density rises, contrary to expectations. Skills-biased technical change is proposed to explain these findings.
On democratic justification
Authors: Laden Anthony S.
Published: February 2016

This comment on Alessandro Ferrara’s Democratic Horizon raises questions about his development of ‘conjectural reasoning’ and the democratic virtue of openness as responses to what he calls ‘hyperpluralism’. In order to probe these questions, the article offers an alternative reading of these ideas.
Increased aortic wall thickness on CT as a sign of prosthetic valve endocarditis
Authors: Fagman Erika , Bech-Hanssen Odd , Flinck Agneta , Lamm Carl , Svensson Gunnar
Published: February 2016

Background

Increased wall thickness in the aortic root has been suggested as an early sign of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). However, there are no previous studies on the aortic wall thickness after aortic valve replacement (AVR) or in patients with PVE.

Purpose

To identify a clinically useful cutoff value for aortic wall thickness to detect PVE.

Material and Methods

Chest computed tomography (CT) studies (n = 303) on patients with a prosthetic aortic valve were retrospectively analyzed. CT studies on patients without PVE (n = 260) were compared with CT studies on patients with definite PVE (n = 43). A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed.

Results

In non-PVE patients, the wall thickness during the first 3 months postoperatively (n = 70, 4.5 ± 1.7 mm) was increased compared to beyond 3 months postoperatively (n = 190, 3.2 ± 1.0 mm, P < 0.001). Beyond 3 months postoperatively, the wall thickness 95th percentile was 5.0 mm without signs of further decrease with time. The wall thickness in PVE patients was 6.8 ± 3.0 mm (n = 43). Beyond 3 months postoperatively, ROC analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.81–0.96). With a cutoff value of 5 mm the sensitivity was 67%, specificity 95%, positive likelihood ratio 14.1, and negative likelihood ratio 0.35 of increased wall thickness in detecting PVE.

Conclusion

In the early postoperative period after AVR, the aortic wall thickness is increased compared to the late postoperative period. After 3 months, the wall thickness has decreased and stabilized. Increased wall thickness (>5 mm) beyond 3 months postoperatively significantly increases the likelihood of PVE.
The symbolic economy of drugs
Authors: Lentacker Antoine
Published: February 2016

This essay reviews four recent studies representing a new direction in the history of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical science. To this end, it introduces the notion of a symbolic economy of drugs, defined as the production, circulation, and reception of signs that convey information about drugs and establish trust in them. Each of the studies under review focuses on one key signifier in this symbolic economy, namely the brand, the patent, the clinical trial, and the drug itself. Drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of the economy of symbolic goods, I conceptualize these signifiers as symbolic assets, that is, as instruments of communication and credit, delivering knowledge, carrying value, and producing authority. The notion of a symbolic economy is offered with a threefold intention. First, I introduce it in order to highlight the implications of historical and anthropological work for a broader theory of the economy of drugs, thus suggesting a language for interdisciplinary conversations in the study of pharmaceuticals. Second, I deploy it in an attempt to emphasize the contributions of the recent scholarship on drugs to a critical understanding of our own contemporary ways of organizing access to drugs and information about drugs. Finally, I suggest ways in which it might be of use to scholars of other commodities and technologies.
Cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndrome manifesting as Tolosa-Hunt syndrome
Authors: Höhne C , Schuh E , Kümpfel T , Straube A
Published: February 2016

Background

Tolosa-Hunt syndrome (THS) is characterized by unilateral orbital pain, ipsilateral oculomotor paresis and a prompt response to treatment with corticosteroids. Several reports have demonstrated that the clinical features of THS are not specific to one causal aetiology and can lead to misdiagnosis.

Case report

We report the case of a patient diagnosed with THS after an episode of unilateral orbital pain and diplopia with demonstration of granulomatous inflammation of both cavernous sinus on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and an immediate response to treatment with corticosteroids. Progression of the disease over the following years, accompanied by increasing signs of inflammation on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, led to further diagnostic tests. Genetic analyses revealed a heterozygote low-penetrance mutation (Q703K) of the cryopyrin/ NLRP3 gene compatible with a cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndrome.

Discussion

This case report demonstrates that THS can be a central nervous system manifestation of cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndrome, which therefore represents a differential diagnosis of THS, even in elderly patients.
Graft Bending Angle at the Intra-articular Femoral Tunnel Aperture After Single-Bundle Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Jang Ki-Mo , Park Sung-Chul , Lee Dae-Hee
Published: February 2016

Background:

To date, no in vivo 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) studies have compared graft bending angles at the femoral tunnel aperture and femoral tunnel length in patients who underwent posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with outside-in (OI) and inside-out (IO) techniques.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

This study used in vivo 3D-CT analysis to compare graft bending angles at the femoral tunnel aperture and femoral tunnel lengths after OI and IO femoral drilling techniques in single-bundle PCL reconstruction. It was hypothesized that the graft bending angle at the femoral tunnel aperture would be less acute with the OI compared with the IO technique, with no difference in femoral tunnel lengths.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Immediate postoperative in vivo 3D-CT and curved planar reformation were used to assess the graft bending angles and femoral tunnel lengths in the sagittal, axial, and coronal planes in 67 patients who underwent single-bundle PCL reconstruction with the OI (n = 37) and IO (n = 30) techniques.

Results:

The mean graft bending angles on the sagittal and axial planes were 8.2° more acute (23.5° vs 15.3°, P = .011) and 5.3° more acute (49.0° vs 43.7°, P = .013), respectively, with the IO compared with the OI technique, but the difference in the coronal plane was not statistically significant (25.3° vs 24.8°, P = .623). Femoral tunnel length was similar in the 2 groups.

Conclusion:

The graft bending angles in single-bundle PCL reconstruction were more acute in the sagittal and axial planes with the IO compared with the OI technique, but there was no difference in the coronal plane. In addition, femoral tunnel lengths did not differ significantly in patients who underwent OI and IO single-bundle PCL reconstructions. Although further biomechanical studies are needed to evaluate the effect on graft failure of a <10° difference in graft bending angle, the small magnitude of this difference would likely have little adverse effect on graft survival.
Restoration commerce and the instruments of trust
Authors: Day Matthew
Published: February 2016

Although the theological elements of Robert Boyle’s mechanical philosophy have received careful scrutiny, his reflections on economic issues have largely been overlooked. This article takes a small step towards redressing this state of affairs. Rather than argue that Boyle – like John Locke or David Hume – was as interested in political economy as he was in discovering the nature of Nature, the article treats him as a point of entry for considering how early-modern England negotiated the revolutionary cultural and economic changes that emerged as capitalism took command. More specifically, it uses one of Boyle’s less-famous inventions – a hydrostatic device for discriminating between real, degraded and counterfeit coinage – in order to explore how economic exchange began to acquire a patina of ‘objectivity’ in the 17th-century imagination.
Therapeutic culture, authenticity and neo-liberalism
Authors: Foster Roger
Published: February 2016

I argue that in recent years, the therapeutic ethos and the ideal of authenticity have become aligned with distinctively neo-liberal notions of personal responsibility and self-reliance. This situation has radically exacerbated the threat to political community that Charles Taylor saw in the ‘ethics of authenticity’. I begin by tracing the history of the therapeutic ethos and its early (Rieff, Lasch, MacIntyre) and late (Furedi) critics. I then discuss Charles Taylor’s argument that the culture of self-fulfillment generated by the therapeutic ethos harbors an important moral ideal, namely, the ethic of authenticity. Pace Taylor, I argue that authenticity has now become thoroughly instrumentalized in the service of the guiding political rationality of neo-liberalism. I make this case through a discussion of its uptake in managerial techniques and practices and also in popular culture.
Toward a reterritorialization of cultural theory
Authors: Tamm Marek , Kull Kalevi
Published: February 2016

This article argues that from a territorial perspective a certain coherence and continuity can be identified in the Estonian cultural-theoretical tradition – a discursive body based on common sources of influence and similar fundamental attitudes. We understand Estonian theory as a local episteme – a territorialized web of epistemological associations and rules for making sense of the world, which favours some premises while discouraging others. The article focuses on the older layers of Estonian theory, discussing the work of Karl Ernst von Baer, Victor Hehn, Gustav Teichmüller, Jakob von Uexküll, Hermann Keyserling, Johannes Gabriel Granö, Juri Lotman a.o. We examine the philosophical foundations of Estonian theory as well as its main epistemic facets. The article concludes that the conceptualization of Estonian theory could contribute to a general transformation of contemporary (cultural) theory, a redefining of the relations between the centre and the peripheries.
A bisection-sampling-based support vector regression–high-dimensional model representation metamodeling technique for high-dimensional problems
Authors: Ju Yaping , Parks Geoff , Zhang Chuhua
Published: February 2016

A major challenge of metamodeling in simulation-based engineering design optimization is to handle the “curse of dimensionality,” i.e. the exponential growth of computational cost with increase of problem dimensionality. Encouragingly, it has been reported recently that a high-dimensional model representation assisted by a radial basis function is capable of deriving high-dimensional input–output relationships at dramatically reduced computational cost. In this article, support vector regression is employed as an alternative to be coupled with high-dimensional model representation for the metamodeling of high-dimensional problems. In particular, the bisection sampling method is proposed to be used in the metamodeling process to generate high-quality training samples. Testing and comparison results show that the developed bisection-sampling-based support vector regression–high-dimensional model representation metamodeling technique can achieve high modeling accuracy with a smaller number of training sample evaluations. For the problem examined in this study, the bisection-sampling-based support vector regression–high-dimensional model representation enables high modeling accuracy and linear computational complexity as the problem dimensionality increases. Analysis of this performance advantage shows that the use of bisection method enables the developed metamodeling technique to be more effective in dealing with high-dimensional problems.
Study on flow characteristics and flow ripple reduction schemes of spool valves distributed radial piston pump
Authors: Guo Tong , Zhao Shengdun , Liu Chen
Published: February 2016

This paper studies the flow characteristics and flow ripple reduction techniques of a spool valves distributed radial piston pump. The mathematical models of the pump are established, and simulations based on the mathematics are performed in AMESim environment. The results indicate that the spool valves distributed radial piston pump has fewer flow fluctuations than the pump distributed by check valves, due to the rigid motion of its distribution component—the spool valves. Then, in order to reduce the flow ripple of the spool valves distributed radial piston pump, three techniques, namely, time delay, relief chamfer and transition compression filter volume, are proposed and their working principles are illustrated. Particularly, the design method of time delay is elaborated and its effectiveness is evaluated. The simulation results suggest that with the usage of the time delay method, the fluctuation range of the spool valves distributed radial piston pump is expected to be reduced by 21.7%.
The use of Rarefaction Analysis for Estimating Palynological Richness from Quaternary Pollen-Analytical Data
Authors: Birks H. J.B. , Line J. M.
Published: February 2016

Reconstructing temporal changes in diversity from pollen assemblages is potentially important both palaeoecologically and ecologically because community diversity may, in part, result from historical processes. The use of diversity indices such as Shannon's information index or Simpson's index is not appropriate with pollen percentage data because such indices consider both the numbers of different taxa and their relative frequencies or representation. The latter aspect in pollen data is inevitably influenced by inherent differences in pollen production and dispersal. The total number of taxa present in a sample is a robust and useful measure of palynological richness if, and only if, all the pollen counts are standardized to a fixed number of grains. Rarefaction analysis implements such a standardization and provides minimum variance unbiased estimates of the expected number of taxa ( t) in a random sample of n individuals taken from a larger collection of N individuals containing T taxa. The underlying mathematical theory of rarefaction analysis and its important biological and palaeoecological assumptions are discussed.

The use of rarefaction analysis is illustrated with three data-sets: Crose Mere, central England (0-c. 12 500 BP); Abernethy Forest, eastern Scotland (5500-12 100 BP); and three sites (Lochs Ashik, Cleat, Meodal) on the Isle of Skye, western Scotland, all covering the last 10 500 years. Palynological richness, as estimated by rarefaction analysis, is high in the protocratic phase (c. 9500-12 500 BP), low in the mesocratic phase (c. 5500-9500 BP), low in the oligocratic phase (0-c. 5500 BP), and high in the Homo sapiens phase (0-c. 5000 BP) of the Holocene. Although factors such as local site characteristics and pollen production, dispersal, and input may influence temporal changes in richness, changes in palynological richness are interpreted as reflecting predominantly the changing floristic richness of the vegetation types in the pollen-source area of a lake and the changing mosaic structure of the landscape through time. Intermediate levels of disturbance, either natural in the protocratic phase or anthropogenic in the Homo sapiens phase appear to be important in maximizing richness at the landscape scale by preventing (he dominance of any single component but insufficient to cause extinction of components at the landscape scale.
Flood Frequency of the Mojave River and the Formation of Late Holocene Playa Lakes, Southern California, USA
Authors: Enzel Yehouda
Published: February 2016

Perennial lakes lasting several decades occupied Silver Lake playa, the terminus of the Mojave River, as recently as 390 ± 90 and 3620 ± 70 BP. Flood routings from the Mojave River headwaters to its terminal playa, and water balance calculations for the resulting lakes, indicate that floods comparable in magnitude to the largest floods in the modern record must occur almost annually to generate and maintain perennial lakes. In contrast, the modern floods of this magnitude have recurrence intervals greater than 18 years. Such an increase in flood frequency is required even if lake evaporation is reduced by as much as 50%. Modern extreme floods of the Mojave River are related to meridional atmospheric circulation and a southeastward shift in the winter low pressure center over the North Pacific Ocean, causing vigorous storms over the headwaters in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. This winter pattern probably occurred more frequently to induce the large number of storms and floods needed to form the middle and late Holocene lakes in Silver Lake playa.
The Late Holocene History of Prairie, Brush-Prairie, and Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Forest on Outwash Plains, North-Central Minnesota, USA
Authors: Almendinger J. C.
Published: February 2016

Pollen diagrams from six sites on outwash plains of north-central Minnesota are interpreted as records of similar extralocal vegetation changes since c. 5000 BP. All of the study sites have undergone a shift from prairie to an aspen-oak community, followed by the jack pine-dominated vegetation that now occupies the sites. All of the species capable of directly invading prairie (aspen, bur oak, willow and some entomophilous shrubs) were probably established on the surrounding moraines prior to their invasion of the adjacent prairie-occupied outwash plains. Only short distances (<20 km) were involved in these local invasions, and the chronology of their establishment does not indicate a regional westward migration of these taxa in the late Holocene. Because climate varies little over the short distances separating the study sites, the asynchroneity of the dates for the establishment of aspen brush (Zone 3/Zone 4 boundary) and the following establishment of jack pine (Zone 2/Zone 3 boundary) indicates that locally varying conditions determined where and when these vegetational shifts occurred. Sloughs and wet swales are apparently prerequisite for aspen to invade prairie, and they probably appeared on the outwash plains at different times because locally varying hydrologic conditions determined the absolute increase in precipitation required for the water table to rise and flood depressions. The rate at which afforestation proceeded, culminating with the establishment of jack pine, appears to be related to local variability in the distribution of wet depressions as they serve as firebreaks. Where peat-filled channels and chains of lakes occur, afforestation occurred first and was relatively rapid. Where lakes and peatlands are scattered, afforestation occurred later and required more time. Where wet depressions are rare, some patches of prairie have persisted since the mid-Holocene.
Behaviour of New Zealand Glaciers and Atmospheric Circulation Changes over the Past 130 years
Authors: Fitzharris B. B. , Hay J. E. , Jones P. D.
Published: February 2016

There is renewed interest as to the impact of future climate change on temperate alpine glaciers because of their role as indicators of past and ongoing changes, and due to their possible involvement in sea-level rise. Substantial changes in termini of New Zealand glaciers since the nineteenth century are compared with variations in atmospheric circulation patterns over the southwest Pacific region. Reconstructed sea-level pressure patterns are used back to 1911. Atmospheric circulation indices obtained from pressure differences between appropriate stations are extended back to the 1860s. Circulation anomalies are examined for winter (related to glacier accumulation), and for summer (related to glacier ablation). Behaviour of glacier termini is found to be strongly linked with circulation changes, especially in summer. Latitudinal shifts in the southern margin of the subtropical high pressure zone are identified as important. An advance of some glaciers since 1980 is consistent with circulation changes over the New Zealand region induced by two large El Niño events.
A Holocene Pollen record from Lowland Tropical Australia
Authors: Shulmeister James
Published: February 2016

A pollen record from a dunefield lake on Groote Eylandt, Northern Australia is presented. This is the first substantially complete Holocene terrestrial record from the seasonally humid lowland tropics of Northern Australia. The lake originated as a seasonal swamp prior to 10 000 BP. A progressive rise in water tables occurred until a permanent lake was established at about 9000 BP. From 9000 to 7500 BP the lake shows evidence of disruption in the surrounding dunefield. Prior to 7500 BP an open grassland covered the dunefield. After 7500 BP the area was rapidly colonized by Eucalyptus open forest and acacias. These types remain dominant to the present. The data suggest that conditions continuously ameliorated from the base of the record to the mid-Holocene and there is evidence of an effective precipitation maximum at about 4000 BP. Effective precipitation declined after 3800 BP but a recovery took place about 1000 BP.
Holocene Palaeoenvironments at the Timberline in the Taillefer Massif, French Alps: A Study of Pollen, plant Macrofossils and Fossil Insects
Authors: Ponel Ph. , de Beaulieu J. L. , Tobolsk K.
Published: February 2016

In order to reconstruct the history of the tree-line fluctuations, an integrated palaeoecological study of pollen, plant macrofossils and insect fossils was made in two peat-bogs containing Pinus uncinata trunks in the Taillefer Massif (Isére, France) at an altitude of 2100 m (i.e., above the present timberline). There is apparently an absence of a local woodland during the Lateglacial. After a hiatus corresponding to the beginning of the Holocene, the local presence of P. uncinata is recorded from at least 7500 BP onwards. There are also indications of Abies woodland in the vicinity of the plateau during the Atlantic chronozone. Significant changes in regional ecosystems are recorded from 5000 BP in an expansion of Fagus and Pinus cembra, and the first pollen evidence for human activities. Plant macrofossils and fossil insects (mainly Coleoptera) significantly improved the interpretations based on pollen analysis. Pinus uncinata disappeared from the plateau at about 2000 BP, slightly before the expansion of Picea at lower altitude. Pollen data imply that the timberline recession may be due to the exploitation of the forest by man. However, a lowering of the snow-line coinciding with the decline of Pinus uncinata is attested by the appearance of the insect Helophorus glacialis. It is therefore probable that there was a combination of human action and climatic impact, the importance of the latter having often been underestimated up to now.
Orbital Forcing and Tree-Limit History: Hypothesis and Preliminary Interpretation of Evidence from Swedish Lappland
Authors: Kullman Leif
Published: February 2016

The Holocene tree-limit history for an area in Swedish Lappland is analysed from a new set of 67 14C-dated subfossil wood remains. The species involved are Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris), mountain birch ( Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa) and grey alder ( Alnus incana). The highest tree-limit was established about 8000 BP by pine. Up to the present it has retreated c. 200 m in altitude at a constant rate of c. 25 m per millennium. A subalpine belt of birch above the pine forest, initially with admixture of alder, developed rapidly after 6000 BP, when birch started to invade the former pine areas and even extended higher. Birch grew at these high elevations until c. 4000 BP, although not necessarily without interruption. After 4000 BP birch also seems to have declined in elevation, although the magnitude is unknown. The steady pine tree-limit recession and the replacement of pine by birch may reflect continuous cooling and change of thermal seasonality. The present results corroborate the general hypothesis that predictable changes in the earth-sun geometry basically force climatic development, and indirectly vegetation history, during an interglacial.
Increased concentration of plasma TNFR1 and TNFR2 in paediatric lupus nephritis
Authors: Patel M , Oni L , Midgley A , Smith E , Tullus K , Marks S D , Jones C A , Pilkington C , Beresford M W
Published: February 2016

Background

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematous (JSLE) is a debilitating condition that frequently involves the kidneys (lupus nephritis; LN). Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), an important pro-inflammatory cytokine, is expressed locally in the kidney and correlates with LN disease activity. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether soluble receptors for TNF-α (sTNFR1/sTNFR2) are significantly increased in children with LN.

Methods

Plasma samples were collected from JSLE patients at routine review. Concentrations of sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were measured (median; interquartile range, IQR) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 25 JSLE patients (seven LN) and 20 healthy controls (HCs).

Results

sTNFR2 concentration was significantly increased in JSLE (5149 pg/dl, 3413–8561) compared to HCs (3858 pg/dl, 2254–5165; p = 0.049). sTNFR1 concentration was significantly increased in active LN ( n = 7, 1765 pg/dl, IQR 1133–4167) compared to inactive LN ( n = 18, 1104 pg/dl, 886–1272; p = 0.018). There was a non-significant increase in sTNFR2 concentration in active LN (9829 pg/dl, 3298–21271) compared to inactive LN (4595 pg/dl, 3345–6993; p = 0.146). sTNFR1 concentration correlated moderately with sTNFR2 ( r = 0.66, p < 0.001). sTNFR2 demonstrated strong positive correlations with ESR ( r = 0.941, p < 0.01) and anti-dsDNA antibodies ( r = 0.998, p = 0.041). Both receptors also positively correlated with creatinine (TNFR1 r = 0.81, p < 0.001; TNFR2 r = 0.50, p = 0.015) and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (TNFR1 r = 0.64, p < 0.01; TNFR2 r = 0.63, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

These data indicate that sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 concentrations are elevated in LN and may reflect renal activity. These results provide basis for further investigation into the pathological pathways underlying LN.
Establishing the Full Operational Capability of the East African Standby Force: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Apuuli Kasaija Phillip
Published: February 2016

In December 2014, countries contributing to the East African Standby Force (EASF) conducted the last exercise to test the validity of the functioning of the force. The exercise heralded the full operationalisation of the force. This article discusses the attainment of full operational capability (FOC) of the EASF, one year before the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force. The main conclusion is that whilst the attainment of FOC of the force should be celebrated with the member states actually validating their troops and equipment contributions, there are outstanding challenges including ongoing crises in the region and lack of resources among others that it must overcome before it can actually be deployed in a conflict situation.
The Political Economy of Fuel Importation Probes and Development of Refineries in Nigeria
Authors: Chikwem Francis Chinwe
Published: February 2016

The assumption of every good probe is to expose the challenge(s) of a given subject within their given terms and proffer solution(s). This article questions Nigerian government and its agencies setting fuel importation probes since 1999, whose terms of reference have been cosmetic and failed to adequately define the challenges hindering the development of refineries in Nigeria. Using empirical evidence from primary and secondary sources of data which build upon the political economy theory of the state, this article highlights the glaring structural challenges which all the fuel importation probes deliberately neglected because of the interplay of class interest and power relations, in ways that enriched the dominant class coalitions and their political loyalties and suggested that these structural challenges must be quickly addressed through a people-oriented oil and gas blueprint by the new Nigeria government, to get it right in the downstream oil and gas sector.
Antineoplastic agents and thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Garcia Gwenalyn , Atallah Jean Paul
Published: February 2016

Thrombotic microangiopathy is an uncommon but reported adverse effect of a variety of antineoplastic drugs, including chemotherapy agents such as mitomycin C and gemcitabine, and newer targeted agents such as the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. We present a review of thrombotic microangiopathy associated with antineoplastic agents and its implications in current cancer therapy.
Pharmacists' roles in oncology pharmacy services: Results of a global survey
Authors: Holle Lisa M , Harris Christy S , Chan Alexandre , Fahrenbruch Rebecca J , Labdi Bonnie A , Mohs Jocelyn E , Norris Leann B , Perkins Janelle , Vela Cory M
Published: February 2016

Background

Oncology pharmacists are capable of providing medication therapy management (MTM) because of their level of training, practice experiences, and responsibilities. Very little data exist about their current practice, including changing roles in the multidisciplinary team, overall impact, and effects in the education of patients and healthcare professionals.

Methods

A 70-item survey about oncology pharmacists' activities in oral chemotherapy programs, MTM, and collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) was deployed using a web survey tool (Qualtrics, Provo, UT, USA), targeting pharmacist members of American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Hematology/Oncology Practice and Research Network (PRN). The objective of this study was to determine oncology pharmacists' activities in areas of oral chemotherapy programs, MTM, and CPAs. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to the ACCP Hematology/Oncology PRN membership. Investigational Review Board approval was obtained.

Results

Of the 795 members who were sent the survey, 81 members (10%) responded; 33 respondents (47%) are involved with an oral chemotherapy program; with 42% measuring outcomes of programs. Only six pharmacists (19%) have published or presented their data. A total of 28 (35%) respondents provide MTM services, with almost half (43%) of these MTM services being dictated by CPAs. A small fraction of these pharmacists (21.4%) reported conducting quality assurance evaluations of their MTM services and three pharmacists (10.7%) reported publishing their results. Those pharmacists practicing under CPAs ( n = 28) were surveyed as to activities included in their CPA. The most common activities included adjusting medication, ordering, interpreting, and monitoring lab tests, developing therapeutic plans and educating patients. Reimbursement for providing these services was uncommon: MTM (4%), oral chemotherapy program (6%), and CPA services (11%). Reported obstacles to reimbursement included lack of understanding, administrative assistance, or time with setting up reimbursement models within the institution.

Conclusion

Many oncology pharmacists are participating in oral chemotherapy programs, MTM, and/or CPAs and perceived barriers were identified. Increased efforts should be directed toward prospectively reporting and assessing the impact these services have on patient care.
Safety of anticoagulation in thrombocytopenic patients with hematologic malignancies: A case series
Authors: Campbell Peter M , Ippoliti Cindy , Parmar Sapna
Published: February 2016

The incidence of venous thromboembolism is greater among cancer patients than the general patient population, with recurrence rates also much higher in patients with cancer diagnoses. Patients with hematologic malignancies often experience prolonged periods of thrombocytopenia throughout their disease course, making therapeutic anticoagulation a challenge. We describe 13 cases of patients with hematologic malignancies that were therapeutically anticoagulated with either low-molecular-weight heparin or unfractionated heparin during periods of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet counts < 50 × 109/µL). Patients were included if they had a diagnosis code for a hematologic malignancy and venous thromboembolism between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012. The diagnosis of venous thromboembolism included both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. There was one bleeding event, World Health Organization grade 2, that was documented in a patient receiving enoxaparin dosed twice daily, resulting in an overall bleeding rate of 7.7% in this case series. All 13 patients were administered platelet transfusions during the periods of severe thrombocytopenia. While each patient case must have the risks and benefits weighed individually, we observed that anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thromboembolism during periods of thrombocytopenia may be considered in patients with hematologic malignancies.
What is the aim of discussion? A provisional answer with the help of Habermas and Arendt
Authors: Vasterling Veronica
Published: February 2016

Habermas and Arendt defend two contrasting accounts of discussion. While both accounts acknowledge the importance of knowledge as basis of discussion, Habermas emphasizes the aim of reasoned agreement and Arendt focuses on plural interpretative perspectives. I will explore the tension between the two accounts in order to clarify the phenomenon of discussion. In particular, I want to address the question whether the two accounts are incompatible or, rather, focus on different stages or practices of discussion that can be folded into each other.
Examples of individual supported living for adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Cocks Errol , Thoresen Stian H , O’Brien Patricia , McVilly Keith , Thomson Allyson , Gadow Friederike , Crosbie Jenny , Prain Meredith
Published: February 2016

Background:

This article provides a qualitative account of four models of support for adults with intellectual disability in individual supported living (ISL) arrangements.

Materials and Methods:

Completion of the first 50 evaluations of 150 arrangements for the third phase of the ISL project provided the examples.

Results:

Four approaches are described: living alone, co-residency, relationship and host family. Within each type, wide variations occur particularly based on security of tenure, formal and informal support and management variations.

Conclusion:

Fifty evaluations so far illustrated a wide range of approaches to ISL, providing evidence of the critical importance of the formal and informal support environment and reinforcing the contention that ISL is appropriate for people with high support needs.
Polypharmacy in the elderly
Authors: Cantlay Anna , Glyn Tessa , Barton Natalia
Published: February 2016

Polypharmacy is the use of several concurrent medications by one individual. It is an increasingly common phenomenon in an ageing population with multiple morbidities, and can often be a challenge for the GP. When used appropriately, medication can prolong life and aid symptom control. When medications are used unnecessarily, polypharmacy can have adverse effects, particularly on elderly patients. This article aims to help the GP manage patients on multiple medications, be aware of potential problems this may cause, and give guidance on medication reviews.
Using the modified Hand Injury Severity Score (mHISS) as an objective measure to evaluate a mechanism of triage in a hand therapy department
Authors: Alexander Anne
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Outpatient departments triage their patients to clinicians with the correct skills and experience to ensure an optimal outcome. Currently this is done through experience of senior clinicians, and varies from one hand therapy department to another. We wished to see if the modified Hand Injury Severity Score a (mHISSa) could be used as an objective tool to triage these patients.

Methods

The mHISS was adapted slightly, and became the mHISSa for this study. Two hundred patient referrals, of previously discharged patients, were reviewed. The grade of staff that had treated them was noted and the referral was scored against the mHISSa. This was used to determine if there was correlation between the score and the current triage pattern.

Results

We found a strong association ( p < 0.01) between the score and the current prioritisation practice. Two-thirds of patients with a minor score (<20) were treated by bands 5 and 6. Patients with a moderate score (21–50) were rarely seen by a band 5 or 6 and were more commonly treated by a band 7 (65% of the total with a moderate score). Those with score in the severe (51–100) and major (0 >101) categories were mostly treated by a band 7 therapists (79.4% of the total with that score) compared to 17.9% by band 6 and 2.6% by band 5.

Discussion

The mHISSa as used in this study can be used as an objective tool to assist with triaging patients, in this hand therapy department. Further work is needed nationally to see if the results can be generalised to other units.
Unpacking team dynamics with growth modeling
Authors: Collins Catherine G. , Gibson Cristina B. , Quigley Narda R. , Parker Sharon K.
Published: February 2016

In this paper we advocate the use of growth modeling as an approach that is particularly useful for testing and refining existing theory on team dynamics, as well as integrating different theoretical perspectives. Quantitative studies that test team theories have typically included only one or two time points, between-team research designs, and hierarchical regression-based statistical analyses. Such an approach enables exploration of antecedents to explain why some teams are more effective than others at specified points in the team task or lifespan. In contrast, using three or more time points of data and applying growth modeling statistical analyses is atypical, but can allow for informative investigations of team trajectories, or patterns of change within teams. We argue that this approach can facilitate fruitful insights about team dynamics, and we provide guidelines for researchers as to how to investigate such team dynamics using growth modeling.
Resistance related metabolic pathways for drug target identification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Cloete Ruben , Oppon Ekow , Murungi Edwin , Schubert Wolf-Dieter , Christoffels Alan
Published: February 2016

Background

Increasing resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs has driven the need for developing new drugs. Resources such as the tropical disease research (TDR) target database and AssessDrugTarget can help to prioritize putative drug targets. Hower, these resources do not necessarily map to metabolic pathways and the targets are not involved in dormancy. In this study, we specifically identify drug resistance pathways to allow known drug resistant mutations in one target to be offset by inhibiting another enzyme of the same metabolic pathway. One of the putative targets, Rv1712, was analysed by modelling its three dimensional structure and docking potential inhibitors.

Results

We mapped 18 TB drug resistance gene products to 15 metabolic pathways critical for mycobacterial growth and latent TB by screening publicly available microarray data. Nine putative targets, Rv1712, Rv2984, Rv2194, Rv1311, Rv1305, Rv2195, Rv1622c, Rv1456c and Rv2421c, were found to be essential, to lack a close human homolog, and to share >67 % sequence identity and >87 % query coverage with mycobacterial orthologs. A structural model was generated for Rv1712, subjected to molecular dynamic simulation, and identified 10 compounds with affinities better than that for the ligand cytidine-5′-monophosphate (C5P). Each compound formed more interactions with the protein than C5P.

Conclusions

We focused on metabolic pathways associated with bacterial drug resistance and proteins unique to pathogenic bacteria to identify novel putative drug targets. The ten compounds identified in this study should be considered for experimental studies to validate their potential as inhibitors of Rv1712.
Judgments toward women wearing high heels: a forced-choice evaluation
Authors: Guéguen Nicolas , Stefan Jordy , Renault Quentin
Published: February 2016

Research reported that men interact with women wearing high heels more readily than with the same women wearing flat heels. However, the effect of heels on the judgment of women by both men and women has received little attention. Male and female participants viewed two photographs of the same woman’s body profile; the woman wore high heels in the one and flat heels in the other, although her shoes and feet were not visible. Participants were asked to select one photograph of the woman on several dimensions of body attractiveness. A significant greater number of male and female participants selected the target with high heels as the sexier, the prettier, and the more elegant, with the more attractive legs and buttocks. The same target was also perceived as the younger person and the photograph that would be preferred by others and the more appropriate for a photo album. The findings support the assumption that high heels could act as secondary sexual characteristics that increase the attractiveness of women to men.
GRK2 Up-Regulation Creates a Positive Feedback Loop for Catecholamine Production in Chromaffin Cells
Authors: Jafferjee Malika , Reyes Valero Thairy , Marrero Christine , McCrink Katie A. , Brill Ava , Lymperopoulos Anastasios
Published: February 2016

Elevated sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity aggravates several diseases, including heart failure. The molecular cause(s) underlying this SNS hyperactivity are not known. We have previously uncovered a neurohormonal mechanism, operating in adrenomedullary chromaffin cells, by which circulating catecholamine (CA) levels increase in heart failure: severe dysfunction of the adrenal α2-adrenergic receptors (ARs) due to the up-regulation of G protein-coupled receptor-kinase (GRK)-2, the kinase that desensitizes them. Herein we looked at the potential signaling mechanisms that bring about this GRK2 elevation in chromaffin cells. We found that chronic CA treatment of either PC12 or rat primary chromaffin cells can in itself result in GRK2 transcriptional up-regulation through α2ARs-Gi/o proteins-Src-ERK1/2. The resultant GRK2 increase severely enhances the α2AR desensitization/down-regulation elevating not only CA release but also CA biosynthesis, as evidenced by tyrosine hydroxylase up-regulation. Finally, GRK2 knockdown leads to enhanced apoptosis of PC12 cells, indicating an essential role for GRK2 in chromaffin cell homeostasis/survival. In conclusion, chromaffin cell GRK2 mediates a positive feedback loop that feeds into CA secretion, thereby enabling the adrenomedullary component of the SNS to turn itself on.