bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human Development and Class Struggle in Venezuela’s Popular Economy: The Paradox of ‘Twenty-First Century Socialism’
Authors: Larrabure Manuel 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn this paper, I outline what I take to be the most important theoretical claims and innovations of ‘twenty-first century socialism’ in Venezuela. These, I argue, consist of an emphasis on human development through popular-economy initiatives, and the importance of building popular power through the state, rather than by ignoring or fighting against it. I then present evidence on Venezuela’s Socialist Production Units, one of Venezuela’s newest state-supported popular-economy organisations. I argue that, consistent with the twenty-first-century socialism approach, SPUs are sites of human development in which participants are learning to challenge capitalist social relations, while establishing new values and practices. Therefore, we can think of Venezuela’s popular economy as expressing a sharpened class contradiction.However, my case study also shows that holding hands with human development is class struggle directed against the state. This reveals a central theoretical and practical paradox in twenty-first century socialism, namely that, while nurturing initiatives that challenge capital, the Venezuelan state also emerges as an important barrier to overcoming the class relation. This, I argue, is not wholly consistent with the views of theorists of twenty-first century socialism that understand Venezuela’s popular economy as forming a new form of dual power or a parallel state, and who therefore downplay the importance of struggles against the state within the popular economy. The strategic implication is that struggles between popular-economy participants and the state cannot be avoided, and indeed will need to be fostered if the project for twenty-first century socialism is to continue.
Putting Theory to Work
Authors: Banaji Jairus 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis reply defends the need for a specifically materialist historiography of modes of production other than capitalism; argues that Marxists should see history as being driven by the state as much as it is by classes; defends the scientific value of the category ‘merchant capitalism’; and explains why Marx came around to seeing the slave plantations as part of ‘total capital’. It concludes by suggesting both that Marx allowed for different levels of determination when thinking about the origins of capitalism, and that Brenner’s account of the transition in English agriculture has now been seriously weakened by Jane Whittle’s critique of it.
Capitalism, Laws of Motion and Social Relations of Production
Authors: Post Charles 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Theory as History brings together twelve essays by Jarius Banaji addressing the nature of modes of production, the forms of historical capitalism and the varieties of pre-capitalist modes of production. Problematic formulations concerning the relationship of social-property relations and the laws of motion of different modes of production and his notion of merchant and slave-holding capitalism undermines Banaji’s project of constructing a non-unilinear, non-Eurocentric Marxism.
Coping with Crisis in the Wake of the Cultural Revolution: Rehistoricising Chinese Postsocialism
Authors: Wu Yiching 
Published: February 2014

AbstractOver three decades after China ventured onto the market path, the Chinese state’s reform programme, which was intended to invigorate socialism, has instead led the country down a capitalist path. This paper situates China’s post-Mao transition in the context of the crisis of the party-state during the Cultural Revolution. Using Gramsci’s idea of ‘passive revolution’, it examines the state’s tactics of crisis management aiming to contain and neutralise emergent opposition and pressure from below. As the combined result of state repression, ideological appropriation and socioeconomic incorporation, a new reform paradigm emerged to rearticulate popular demands and initiatives to an official socialism centring on economic modernisation and market liberalisation.
Globalectics: Theory and Politics of Knowing, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, New York: Columbia University Press, 2012
Authors: Moran Shane 
Published: February 2014

AbstractNgũgĩ wa Thiong’o is known for his principled criticism of colonialism, advocacy of the importance of indigenous languages, and concern with the role of culture and literature in forming the foundation of a truly national sensibility.Globalecticsadds interpretations of Fanon, Hegel, and the Marxian legacy. It provides an opportunity to assess Ngũgĩ’s analysis of colonialism and national liberation.
Debating Modes of Production and Forms of Exploitation: Introduction to the Symposium on Jairus Banaji’s Theory as History
Authors: Campling Liam 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Theory as History, which was awarded the Deutscher Memorial Prize in 2011, collects together several of Jairus Banaji’s essays published over the course of 30 years. This symposium comprises four essays engaging with different aspects of the powerful and provocative contributions in Theory as History, as well as an essay in response by Banaji. The Editorial Introduction sketches elements of Banaji’s work and highlights some of the main arguments advanced in the symposium.
José Carlos Mariátegui: An Anthology, edited by Harry E. Vanden and Marc Becker, New York: Monthly Review Press, 2011
Authors: Kingsbury Donald V. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractDescribed as ‘the most original and innovative Latin American Marxist’ by Michael Löwy – a sentiment repeated by many others – the work of José Carlos Mariátegui remains a largely untapped resource in the Western Marxist tradition outside of specialist circles. This review essay considers the recent publication of a translation and anthology of Mariátegui’s work into English by Harry Vanden and Mark Becker as a first step towards correcting this trend. It highlights Mariátegui’s understanding of race, power, and identity; the combined and uneven development of capital; and the role of myth and voluntarism in revolutionary struggle as key points in which the early-twentieth-century Peruvian contributes to contemporary debates in Marxist praxis in Latin America and beyond.
Probabilistic Gaussian Copula Regression Model for Multisite and Multivariable Downscaling
Authors: Ben Alaya M. A. , Chebana F. , Ouarda T. B. M. J. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Atmosphere–ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) are useful to simulate large-scale climate evolutions. However, AOGCM data resolution is too coarse for regional and local climate studies. Downscaling techniques have been developed to refine AOGCM data and provide information at more relevant scales. Among a wide range of available approaches, regression-based methods are commonly used for downscaling AOGCM data. When several variables are considered at multiple sites, regression models are employed to reproduce the observed climate characteristics at small scale, such as the variability and the relationship between sites and variables. This study introduces a probabilistic Gaussian copula regression (PGCR) model for simultaneously downscaling multiple variables at several sites. The proposed PGCR model relies on a probabilistic framework to specify the marginal distribution for each downscaled variable at a given day through AOGCM predictors, and handles multivariate dependence between sites and variables using a Gaussian copula. The proposed model is applied for the downscaling of AOGCM data to daily precipitation and minimum and maximum temperatures in the southern part of Quebec, Canada. Reanalysis products are used in this study to assess the potential of the proposed method. Results of the study indicate the superiority of the proposed model over classical regression-based methods and a multivariate multisite statistical downscaling model.
Initiating and developing clinical services, training and research in a low resource setting: the Malawi ENT experience
Authors: Mulwafu Wakisa , Nyirenda Thomas Elliot , Fagan Johannes J , Bem Chris , Mlumbe Kumvana , Chitule Jean 
Published: February 2014

Background Sub-Saharan Africa countries like Malawi have a paucity of ear, nose and throat (ENT) data, services and training opportunities. Objective To reflect on new Malawian ENT experience and to propose guidelines to poorly resourced countries. Design Analysis of data predating and following establishment of ENT services in Malawi. Results In 2008 the first and only Malawian ENT specialist established ENT services with external funding. Fifteen clinical officers have been trained and a nurse placed at each outreach hospital. In 2012, 15,284 consultations were recorded: 543 (3.6%) from outreach clinics. Forty-nine percent needed medical treatment, while 45% needed medical advice. Surgery was performed on 2.7% of patients; 21% for foreign bodies in the nose and throat and 18% for foreign bodies and biopsies of ears. Conclusions To establish accessible and sustainable specialist ENT services in a poor country requires building on an established local health delivery system, careful planning and investment in personnel, infrastructure, training and data collection.
Effect of nicardipine on renal function following robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency
Authors: Huh Hyub , Kim Na Young , Park Seol Ju , Cho Jang Eun 
Published: February 2014

Objective To investigate the renoprotective effect of nicardipine in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP). Methods Men with preoperative renal insufficiency (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2) were enrolled and randomized to receive either 0.5 µg/kg per min nicardipine continuous infusion (nicardipine group) or normal saline (control group) during RALRP. Renal function was determined by eGFR and serum creatinine concentration. Results Serum creatinine levels on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 3 were significantly lower than baseline values in the nicardipine group ( n = 50). In the control group ( n = 50), eGFR was significantly higher on POD 3 than baseline, and was significantly higher than baseline on POD 1 and 3 in the nicardipine group. The change in eGFR from baseline to POD 1 was significantly higher in the nicardipine group than the control group. Conclusion Continuous infusion of nicardipine during RALRP improved postoperative renal function on POD 1 in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency.
Posterior Sternoclavicular Joint Injuries in the Adolescent Population
Authors: Tepolt Frances , Carry Patrick M. , Heyn Patricia C. , Miller Nancy H. 
Published: February 2014

Background: Sternoclavicular dislocations are relatively infrequent and are generally divided into anterior and posterior disruptions, the former being the most common. While posterior sternoclavicular joint (PSCJ) injuries are very rare, they may be associated with life-threatening complications. The ideal management of these injuries, particularly in the adolescent population, has not been well described. Purpose: Through a meta-analysis of PSCJ injuries in the adolescent, we aimed to (1) describe the epidemiology of PSCJ injuries in relation to the mechanism of injury, associated complications, and treatment preferences; (2) compare the success of closed reduction when attempted <48 versus >48 hours after the initial injury; and (3) compare the outcomes of closed versus open treatment. Study Design: Meta-analysis. Methods: A thorough review of the English literature was performed to identify all cases of PSCJ dislocations or medial clavicular physeal fractures in patients aged 12 to 18 years. Patient-level data for 140 patients were extracted from 79 studies. Results: The mean age of the patients was 15.24 years. Forty-nine patients (35.00%) underwent closed treatment only, 42 (30.00%) open treatment alone, and 47 (33.57%) closed treatment followed by open treatment. Also, 55.8% of closed reductions performed within 48 hours were successful compared with 30.8% of those performed more than 48 hours after injury. After initial treatment, 92.31% of patients treated with closed reduction regained full function without recurrence as compared with 95.83% of patients treated operatively. Conclusion: Closed and open methods have proven highly effective for the treatment of PSCJ injuries. However, follow-up data reported in the literature vary considerably. Closed reduction is most effective when attempted less than 48 hours after the initial injury.
Individual Factors Predicting Mental Health Court Diversion Outcome
Authors: Verhaaff Ashley , Scott Hannah 
Published: February 2014

Objective: This study examined which individual factors predict mental health court diversion outcome among a sample of persons with mental illness participating in a postcharge diversion program. Method: The study employed secondary analysis of existing program records for 419 persons with mental illness in a court diversion program. Results: Analysis revealed that unemployment was a significant predictor of program completion. Employment and symptom severity were predictive of partial program completion, while participants who did not complete programming were more likely to have a concurrent disorder and were more likely to be residentially unstable than participants who did complete programming. Conclusion: These findings discuss characteristics of persons with mental illness, as they relate to the likelihood of completing diversion programming.
Thrombophilic Mutations as Risk Factor for Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Russo Patrizia Dello , Damante Giuseppe , Pasca Samantha , Turello Marina , Barillari Giovanni 
Published: February 2014

Background: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vein disease and an important cause of blindness and visual morbidity. Many conditions are associated with RVO but the real role of the thrombophilic mutations is still unclear. Aim: To evaluate the potential role of thrombophilic mutations in RVO. Methods: We have evaluated 113 patients with RVO and compared with 104 volunteer controls. The controls were all healthy blood donors without previous venous thromboembolism episode or arterial thromboembolism episode. All patients were tested for 5 gene variants (here all named as mutations): factor V ( FV) Leiden (G1691A), factor II ( FII; G20210A), 5,1-methylenetetra-hydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR; C677T), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 ( PAI-1; 4G/5G), and angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE; Del/Ins). Statistical analysis were performed by the 2-tailed chi-square test. Results: Statistical test showed that TT homozygous patients of the MTHFR C677T mutation ( P = .017) and heterozygous GA patients of the FII G20210A mutation ( P = .018) were significantly higher than that in controls. For FV Leiden, even if the values were higher in patients than in controls, P value was not statistically significant. Conversely, for the ACE (Ins/Del) and PAI-1 (4G/5G) mutations, no difference was observed among genotypes of patients with RVO and control participants. Conclusions: In our study, the FII G20210A and the MTHFR C677T mutations resulted significantly higher in patients than in controls; in contrast, thrombophilic mutation of FV, ACE, and PAI-1 genes was not statistically correlated with RVO. In spite of having found an association between some thrombophilic mutations and RVO, more studies with a major number of patients are necessary to determine the final role of these gene variants.
Hepcidin is Linked to Hypoferremia in Patients With Rheumatic Valve Disease
Authors: Akçay Murat , Yeter Ekrem , Ayhan Hüseyin , Durmaz Tahir , Keleş Telat , Kasapkara Hacı Ahmet , Bilen Emine , Bozkurt Engin 
Published: February 2014

Background and Aim: Hepcidin has been shown to be an acute phase reactant, induced by infection and inflammation. Ongoing inflammation was shown in rheumatic valve disease (RVD). In this study we want to investigate whether there is a relationship between inflammation and impaired iron metabolism and the role of hepcidin on serum iron levels. Methods and Results: Fourty-six patients with RVD and 34 healthy individuals were included in the study. Serum hepcidin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), hemoglobin, hematocrit, iron, iron-binding capacity, ferritin levels were measured. Serum hepcidin levels were significantly increased in patients with RVD than in control group (316 ± 121 ng/mL vs 435 ± 126 ng/mL; P < .001). Serum hs-CRP levels were no significantly higher in the patient group in than in the control group (3.9 ± 3.6 mg/L vs 3.5 ± 3.7 mg/L; P = .521). Conclusion: Hepcidin levels are decreased independently from hs-CRP levels as a compensatory mechanism to increase the iron absorption in response to decreased serum iron levels in patients with RVD.
Supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release: surgical technique with prospective case series
Authors: Ecker J. , Perera N. , Ebert J. 
Published: February 2014

Current techniques for endoscopic carpal tunnel release use an infraretinacular approach, inserting the endoscope deep to the flexor retinaculum. We present a supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release technique in which a dissecting endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, which improves vision and the ability to dissect and manipulate the median nerve and tendons during surgery. The motor branch of the median nerve and connections between the median and ulnar nerve can be identified and dissected. Because the endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, the median nerve is not compressed before division of the retinaculum and, as a result, we have observed no cases of the transient median nerve deficits that have been reported using infraretinacular endoscopic techniques. Level of evidence: IV.
Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in the Athlete
Authors: Tietze David C. , Borchers James 
Published: February 2014

Context: Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a relatively uncommon but potentially fatal condition affecting athletes that requires prompt recognition and appropriate management. Evidence Acquisition: A search of the PubMed database from 2003 to 2013 using the term exertional rhabdomyolysis was performed. Further evaluation of the bibliographies of articles expanded the evidence. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Results: Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) is a relatively uncommon condition with an incidence of approximately 29.9 per 100,000 patient years but can have very serious consequences of muscle ischemia, cardiac arrhythmia, and death. The athlete will have pain, weakness, and swelling in the muscles affected as well as significantly elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK). Hydration is the foundation for any athlete with ER; management can also include dialysis or surgery. Stratifying the athlete into high- or low-risk categories can determine if further workup is warranted. Conclusion: Exertional rhabdomyolysis evaluation requires a history, physical examination, and serology for definitive diagnosis. Treatment modalities should include rest and hydration. Return to play and future workup should be determined by the risk stratification of the athlete. Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): C.
Novel anti–B-cell maturation antigen antibody-drug conjugate (GSK2857916) selectively induces killing of multiple myeloma
Authors: Tai Yu-Tzu , Mayes Patrick A. , Acharya Chirag , Zhong Mike Y. , Cea Michele , Cagnetta Antonia , Craigen Jenny , Yates John , Gliddon Louise , Fieles William , Hoang Bao , Tunstead James , Christie Amanda L. , Kung Andrew L. , Richardson Paul , Munshi Nikhil C. , Anderson Kenneth C. 
Published: February 2014

Key Points
Selective myeloma cell killing and enhanced effector function of a novel anti-BCMA antibody conjugated with MMAF via noncleavable linker. Specific multiple myeloma antigen for monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy.
Seed/catalyst-free vertical growth of high-density electrodeposited zinc oxide nanostructures on a single-layer graphene
Authors: Aziz Nur Suhaili Abd , Mahmood Mohamad Rusop , Yasui Kanji , Hashim Abdul Manaf 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe report the seed/catalyst-free vertical growth of high-density electrodeposited ZnO nanostructures on a single-layer graphene. The absence of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and heat has resulted in the formation of nanoflake-like ZnO structure. The results show that HMTA and heat are needed to promote the formation of hexagonal ZnO nanostructures. The applied current density plays important role in inducing the growth of ZnO on graphene as well as in controlling the shape, size, and density of ZnO nanostructures. High density of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods comparable to other methods was obtained. The quality of the ZnO nanostructures also depended strongly on the applied current density. The growth mechanism was proposed. According to the growth timing chart, the growth seems to involve two stages which are the formation of ZnO nucleation and the enhancement of the vertical growth of nanorods. ZnO/graphene hybrid structure provides several potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics such as photovoltaic devices, sensing devices, optical devices, and photodetectors.
HIV-1 induces cytoskeletal alterations and Rac1 activation during monocyte-blood–brain barrier interactions: modulatory role of CCR5
Authors: Woollard Shawna M , Li Hong , Singh Sangya , Yu Fang , Kanmogne Georgette D 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Background
Most HIV strains that enter the brain are macrophage-tropic and use the CCR5 receptor to bind and infect target cells. Because the cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments involved in cellular movement and migration, we investigated whether CCR5 and the cytoskeleton are involved in endothelial-mononuclear phagocytes interactions, adhesion, and HIV-1 infection.

Results
Using a cytoskeleton phospho-antibody microarray, we showed that after co-culture with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), HIV-1 infected monocytes increased expression and activation of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, including Rac1/cdc42 and cortactin, compared to non-infected monocytes co-cultured with HBMEC. Analysis of brain tissues from HIV-1-infected patients validated these findings, and showed transcriptional upregulation of Rac1 and cortactin, as well as increased activation of Rac1 in brain tissues of HIV-1-infected humans, compared to seronegative individuals and subjects with HIV-1-encephalitis. Confocal imaging showed that brain cells expressing phosphorylated Rac1 were mostly macrophages and blood vessels. CCR5 antagonists TAK-799 and maraviroc prevented HIV-induced upregulation and phosphorylation of cytoskeleton-associated proteins, prevented HIV-1 infection of macrophages, and diminished viral-induced adhesion of monocytes to HBMEC. Ingenuity pathway analysis suggests that during monocyte-endothelial interactions, HIV-1 alters protein expression and phosphorylation associated with integrin signaling, cellular morphology and cell movement, cellular assembly and organization, and post-translational modifications in monocytes. CCR5 antagonists prevented these HIV-1-induced alterations.

Conclusions
HIV-1 activates cytoskeletal proteins during monocyte-endothelial interactions and increase transcription and activation of Rac1 in brain tissues. In addition to preventing macrophage infection, CCR5 antagonists could diminish viral-induced alteration and phosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins, monocyte adhesion to the brain endothelium and viral entry into the central nervous system.