Search

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a nonselective cation channel expressed by pain-sensing neurons and has been an attractive target for the development of drugs to treat pain. Recently, Src homology region two domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1, encoded by Ptpn6) was shown to dephosphorylate TRPV1 in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, which was linked with alleviating different pain phenotypes. These previous studies were performed in male rodents only and did not directly investigate the role of SHP-1 in TRPV-1 mediated sensitization. Therefore, our goal was to determine the impact of Ptpn6 overexpression on TRPV1-mediated neuronal responses and capsaicin-induced pain behavior in mice of both sexes. Twelve-week-old male and female mice overexpressing Ptpn6 (Shp1-Tg) and their wild type (WT) littermates were used. Ptpn6 overexpression was confirmed in the DRG of Shp1-Tg mice by RNA in situ hybridization and RT-qPCR. Trpv1 and Ptpn6 were found to be co-expressed in DRG sensory neurons in both genotypes. Functionally, this overexpression resulted in lower magnitude intracellular calcium responses to 200 nM capsaicin stimulation in DRG cultures from Shp1-Tg mice compared to WTs. In vivo, we tested the effects of Ptpn6 overexpression on capsaicin-induced pain through a model of capsaicin footpad injection. While capsaicin injection evoked nocifensive behavior (paw licking) and paw swelling in both genotypes and sexes, only WT mice developed mechanical allodynia after capsaicin injection. We observed similar level of TRPV1 protein expression in the DRG of both genotypes, however, a higher amount of tyrosine phosphorylated TRPV1 was detected in WT DRG. These experiments suggest that, while SHP-1 does not mediate the acute swelling and nocifensive behavior induced by capsaicin, it does mediate a protective effect against capsaicin-induced mechanical allodynia in both sexes. The protective effect of SHP-1 might be mediated by TRPV1 dephosphorylation in capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons of the DRG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of resilience in social practice has evolved from a theoretical framework at the intersection between individuals and their social ecology. Critics argue this theory still results in policies and practices that are too individualised, with the potential for negative social consequences. This paper further critiques contemporary understanding of resilience theory and its application. It juxtaposes complex systems theory with a social inequalities oriented resilience practice. This provides a paradoxical approach. It is acknowledged that state and public policy decisions and actions can be anti-resilient, undermining community and social resilience that already exists in the form of social relationships, self-organisation and co-production. Nevertheless, collective social resilience also illustrates the potential of local and service user organisations to contribute to an overall transformational change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine levator veli palatini muscle composition in patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate and investigate the impact of Veau class. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital. Patients/Participants: Thirteen patients with nonsyndromic cleft palate were recruited. Interventions: During primary palatoplasty, a sample of levator veli palatini muscle was excised and prepared for histological analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Fat and collagen content were determined utilizing Oil Red and Sirius red stains, respectively, while muscle fiber cross-sectional areas were calculated from H&E-stained samples, with analysis using histomorphometric methods. Immunofluorescent staining of myosin heavy chain isoforms was performed. Results: Patients underwent repair at 10.8 months of age (interquartile range [IQR] 10.2-12.9). Fat content of the levator veli palatini muscle was low in both groups, ranging from 0% to 5.2%. Collagen content ranged from 8.5% to 39.8%; neither fat nor collagen content showed an association with Veau classes. Mean muscle fiber cross-sectional area decreased with increasing Veau class, from 808 µm2 (range 692-995 µm2) in Veau II to 651 µm2 (range 232-750 µm2) in Veau III (P =.02). There was also a nonsignificant decrease in proportion of type I muscle fibers with increasing Veau class (44.3% [range 31.4%-84.4%] in Veau II vs 35.3% [range 17.4%-61.3%] in Veau III). Conclusions: Muscle fiber area in levator veli palatini muscles decreases in Veau III clefts in comparison to Veau II. The impact of these differences in velopharyngeal dysfunction requires further analysis of a larger cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops and applies the concept of accountability styles for analyzing and comparing accountability practices in different countries. This is relevant as there is considerable scholarship on public sector accountability but only very few comparative studies. Extant studies have shown that national styles of accountability are both marked by convergence as well as the resilience of national differences. The concept of accountability style is adopted to describe and interpret how and why accountability practices differ between administrative systems. It does so by analyzing practices of accountability of public sector agencies in four European democracies with different state traditions: the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. These countries vary with regards to state strength (interventionist propensity) and administrative concentration (high or low centralization). The analysis focuses on the accountability of arms' length agencies which lends itself for comparisons across counties. The paper shows that the national political-administrative context crucially shapes practices of accountability and accountability regimes of agencies. The Norwegian accountability style is characterized as 'centralized and convenient'. The UK-style is equally centralized yet not so convenient as it incurs high accountability-process costs on agencies. Switzerland is marked by limited hierarchical accountability. And the Dutch accountability style is comparatively 'broad and informal'. State strength and administrative concentration explain some of the variance while historical legacies explain additional national variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength-based assessment has achieved acceptance from educational, mental health, and social service professionals as a means to measuring emotional and behavioral strengths of children. Several standardized, norm-referenced tests have been developed to assess these strengths; however, the primary mode of assessment is via informal interviews of parents and caregivers. In many cases, these interviews lack psychometric support, including basic validity and reliability. The purpose of this study was to document the multistep process used to establish the content validity of a newly developed instrument: Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale: Strength-Based Interview. Specifically, the results of a survey of 40 U.S. professional mental health staff and educators are described where respondents rated the importance of interview questions to the construct of strength-based assessment. The findings of the survey as well as the 18 items deemed most important are reported. Research limitations, future research, and implications for mental health and educational professionals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent Strategic Organization essay, Arend analyzed four papers as contributions to entrepreneurship theory. He concluded that progress toward building unique-to-field conceptualizations is impeded because contributions in the domain are not sufficiently novel, do not cover the breadth of the phenomenon, and fail to offer normative guidance to practicing entrepreneurs. In this essay, we respond to these conclusions by examining the premise behind the evaluation of theory progress used to derive them, and then drawing on insights from the philosophy of science research to introduce a collective-evolutionary perspective as an alternative for the appraisal of entrepreneurship theory. Our alternative view shifts the focus from single papers toward evaluating theory as a collection of contributions that appear over time. Under this perspective, it is the degree to which newer theories take up insights from prior theory in an evolutionary fashion that serves as a key indicator of progress. Recognizing this, we advocate for a path toward productive theorizing in entrepreneurship where borrowing insights from prior cross-disciplinary theory is a strength rather than weakness, where wide-scope theory is important at the research program level while narrow scope is appropriate for individual contributions, and where obsession over the novelty of theory concepts undermines the continuity needed to produce a reliable body of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A constraints-led approach (CLA), based on an ecological dynamics rationale for athlete learning and development has been applied to analyses of individual and team sports. To date, such an approach has yet to be applied to the learning of coaches. Here, we propose how applying a CLA in education and professional development programmes can shape emerging behaviours of coaches as they interact with constraints of representative environments to adapt their practice. A core concept within ecological dynamics for coach education is the conceptual differentiation between knowledge of (direct perception) and knowledge about (indirect perception) the environment. Current coach education and development practices focus primarily on the acquisition and transmission of knowledge about, which over-relies on provision of (abstract) verbal and visual augmented corrective information found in manuals. Reconsidering coaches' behaviours as emerging under constraints provides a coach developer opportunities to identify and manipulate key individual, environmental and task constraints. This approach guides attention to relevant and alternative affordances (opportunities for action) when coaching, and promotes continuous self-regulation of coach learning, supported by an experienced mentor. Learning to coach through a CLA could result in an extensive appreciation of multiple sources of knowledge, resulting in a continuously deepening fit between the coach and their performance environment. An ecological perspective of a coach learning to adapt to the constraints of a performance environment offers an alternative to current formalised coach development practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our management of cubital tunnel syndrome has expanded to involve multiple adjunctive procedures, including supercharged end-to-side anterior interosseous to ulnar nerve transfer, cross-palm nerve grafts from the median to ulnar nerve, and profundus tenodesis. We also perform intraoperative brief electrical stimulation in patients with severe disease. The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of adjunctive procedures and electrical stimulation on patient outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 136 patients with cubital tunnel syndrome who underwent operative management from 2013 to 2018. A total of 38 patients underwent adjunctive procedure(s), and 33 received electrical stimulation. A historical cohort of patients who underwent cubital tunnel surgery from 2009 to 2011 (n = 87) was used to evaluate the impact of adjunctive procedures. Study outcomes were postoperative improvements in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire scores, pinch strength, and patient-reported pain and quality of life. Results: In propensity score–matched samples, patients who underwent adjunctive procedures had an 11.3-point greater improvement in DASH scores than their matched controls (P =.0342). In addition, patients who received electrical stimulation had significantly improved DASH scores relative to baseline (11.7-point improvement, P <.0001), whereas their control group did not. However, when compared between treatment arms, there were no significant differences for any study outcome. Conclusions: Patients who underwent adjunctive procedures experienced greater improvement in postoperative DASH scores than their matched pairs. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the effects of brief electrical stimulation in compression neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acellular nerve allografts have been used successfully and with increasing frequency to reconstruct nerve injuries. As their use has been expanded to treat longer gap, larger diameter nerve injuries, some failed cases have been reported. We present the histomorphometry of 5 such cases illustrating these limitations and review the current literature of acellular nerve allografts. Methods: Between 2014 and 2019, 5 patients with iatrogenic nerve injuries to the median or ulnar nerve reconstructed with an AxoGen AVANCE nerve allograft at an outside hospital were treated in our center with allograft excision and alternative reconstruction. These patients had no clinical or electrophysiological evidence of recovery, and allograft specimens at the time of surgery were sent for histomorphological examination. Results: Three patients with a median and 2 with ulnar nerve injury were included. Histology demonstrated myelinated axons present in all proximal native nerve specimens. In 2 cases, axons failed to regenerate into the allograft and in 3 cases, axonal regeneration diminished or terminated within the allograft. Conclusions: The reported cases demonstrate the importance of evaluating the length and the function of nerves undergoing acellular nerve allograft repair. In long length, large-diameter nerves, the use of acellular nerve allografts should be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, the European Medicines Agency staged the first effort at democratic innovation within transnational European Union institutions directly influencing the transnational regulation of medicines. Alongside its public consultation on epilepsy drug Valproate, European Medicines Agency included a public hearing involving representatives of patients and testimony from those directly affected by the medicines. Using this critical case study, the article argues from a deliberative democratic perspective that although the hearing in many ways exhibited the traditional shortcomings of elite-driven deliberation, it also demonstrated unexpected and surprising deliberative qualities. Based on new quantitative analysis of the hearing using the Discourse Quality Index, and qualitative observation of over 4 hours of footage, the article argues European Medicines Agency's hearing facilitated equitable access and influence of patients and members of the public who had previously been excluded from decision making on drug distribution. These findings provide important new evidence of the deliberative democratic value of public hearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic peripheral nerve injuries cause chronic pain, disability, and long-term reductions in quality of life. However, their incidence after extremity trauma remains poorly understood. Methods: The IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database from 2010 to 2015 was used to identify patients aged 18 to 64 who presented to emergency departments for upper and/or lower extremity traumas. Cumulative incidences were calculated for nerve injuries diagnosed within 2 years of trauma. Cox regression models were developed to evaluate the associations between upper extremity nerve injury and chronic pain, disability, and use of physical therapy or occupational therapy. Results: The final cohort consisted of 1 230 362 patients with employer-sponsored health plans. Nerve injuries were diagnosed in 2.6% of upper extremity trauma patients and 1.2% of lower extremity trauma patients. Only 9% and 38% of nerve injuries were diagnosed by the time of emergency department and hospital discharge, respectively. Patients with nerve injuries were more likely to be diagnosed with chronic pain (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.3-8.2), use physical therapy services (HR: 10.7, 95% CI, 8.8-13.1), and use occupational therapy services (HR: 19.2, 95% CI, 15.4-24.0) more than 90 days after injury. Conclusions: The incidence of nerve injury in this national cohort was higher than previously reported. A minority of injuries were diagnosed by emergency department or hospital discharge. These findings may improve practitioner awareness and inform public health interventions for injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practical relevance of entrepreneurial fraud has stimulated a wide array of research occurring in disciplinary silos. We take stock of the current state of the entrepreneurial fraud literature by conducting a multidisciplinary systematic literature review and synthesize the findings into a unified framework. Taking an inductive approach, our framework depicts the antecedents, inner workings, and ramifications of entrepreneurial fraud. Doing so, we reveal nuances in the inner workings of entrepreneurial fraud, such as variation in the focus and magnitude of deception used to obtain valuable resources from stakeholders and that fraud can service authentic entrepreneurial activities or nonentrepreneurial personal uses. Accounting for these distinctions reveals that fraud can result in a mixture of positive and negative consequences for perpetrators, victims, and societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Therapeutic electrical stimulation (ES) applied to repaired nerve is a promising treatment option to improve regeneration. However, few studies address the impact of ES following nerve graft reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to determine if ES applied to a nerve repair using nerve isograft in a rodent model could improve nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Methods: Adult rats were randomized to 2 groups: "ES" and "Control." Rats received a tibial nerve transection that was repaired using a tibial nerve isograft (1.0 cm length), where ES was applied immediately after repair in the applicable group. Nerve was harvested 2 weeks postrepair for immunohistochemical analysis of axon growth and macrophage accumulation. Independently, rats were assessed using walking track and grid-walk analysis for up to 21 weeks. Results: At 2 weeks, more robust axon regeneration and greater macrophage accumulation was observed within the isografts for the ES compared to Control groups. Both walking track and grid-walk analysis revealed that return of functional recovery was accelerated by ES. The ES group demonstrated improved functional recovery over time, as well as improved recovery compared to the Control group at 21 weeks. Conclusions: ES improved early axon regeneration into a nerve isograft and was associated with increased macrophage and beneficial M2 macrophage accumulation within the isograft. ES ultimately improved functional recovery compared to isograft repair alone. This study supports the clinical potential of ES to improve the management of nerve injuries requiring a nerve graft repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While populism challenges the pluralism and technocratic expertise on which public bureaucracies are based, extant scholarship has overlooked its effects on accountability processes. In particular, it neglects the impact of anti-elite rhetoric, characterized by what can be regarded as "emotionalized blame attribution," on the thinking and behavior of accountability actors. Responding to this gap, this article examines the impact of this distinctive form of populist rhetoric on accountability relationships within the bureaucratic state. It identifies three "stages" whereby these populist pressures challenge accountability relationships, threaten the reputation of accountability actors, and result in alternative accountability practices. In doing so, the article provides a roadmap for assessing the impact of anti-elite rhetoric on accountability actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary public governance, leaders of public organizations are faced with multiple, and oftentimes conflictual, accountability claims. Drawing upon a survey of CEO's of agencies in seven countries, we explore whether and how conflictual accountability regimes relate to strategic behaviors by agency-CEO's and their political principals. The presence of conflictual accountability is experienced as a major challenge and is associated with important behavioral responses by those CEO's. This article demonstrates empirically how conflictual accountability is related to (a) controlling behaviors by principals, (b) constituency building behaviors by agencies, and (c) a general pattern of intensified contacts and information processing by both parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of painful neuromas continues to challenge clinicians. Controlling axon growth to prevent neuroma has gained considerable traction. A logical extension of this idea is to therefore develop an approach to control and arrest axon growth. Given the limits in axonal regeneration across acellular nerve allografts (ANAs), these constructs could provide a means to reliably terminate axon regeneration from an injured nerve. The purpose of this study was to determine if attaching an ANA to an injured nerve could provide a means to control and limit axon regeneration in a predictable manner. Methods: Twenty (20) adult rats received a sciatic nerve transection, where only the proximal nerve was repaired using an ANA of variable length (0.5, 2.5, and 5.0 cm) or left unrepaired (control). The nerves were harvested 5 weeks post-operatively for gross and histomorphometric analysis. The extent of myelinated axons in regenerated tissue was quantified. Results: At 5 weeks, limited axon regeneration within the ANAs was observed. All lengths of ANAs lead to reduced myelinated axon numbers in the most terminal tissue region compared to untreated injured nerve (P =.002). Additionally, ANA length 2.5 cm or greater did not contain any axons at the most terminal tissue region. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a proof of concept that ANAs attached to the proximal end of an injured nerve can limit axon growth in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the extent of axon growth from the injured nerve into the ANA is dependent on the ANA length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political scientists are wary of engaging with 'the public' on mainstream and social media because they fear those mediums fail to get across the deep and nuanced argument they develop in their own research. This article suggests a way of justifying public engagement that begins not with debates about the ethical and political concerns of doing this in practice (of which there are many), but how we as political scientists justify public media engagement to ourselves on the basis of the ethical and political process of 'doing' political science. As such, this article identifies the disciplinary basis upon which we may justify media-driven public engagement as an integral part of political science as an academic enterprise. Drawing on current epistemological debates in political science, the article characterises moments of political research as impressionistic exercises, which require public engagement. This means making the public aware of the deep and valuable insights of political science, in a way that sketches out how the discipline can shed light on important social and political phenomena, thereby informing our own scholarly thinking, and that of those we engage with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-being is an essential outcome of engagement in entrepreneurship, but the pathway from self-employment to well-being is poorly understood. To address this, we develop a model in which psychological functioning—purposeful engagement with life, realization of personal talents and capabilities, and fulfillment of intrinsic needs such as autonomy and competence—mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship and subjective well-being. We test our model with data from the European Social Survey using structural equation modeling and a series of robustness tests (e.g., propensity score matching estimators and accounting for model uncertainty). Results suggest that entrepreneurship is associated with substantial benefits in terms of psychological functioning—both personal and social—which almost entirely mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship and subjective well-being. These findings highlight psychological functioning as a critical pathway between entrepreneurship and subjective well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. We analyzed the literature to determine (1) the surgically relevant applications for which head-mounted display (HMD) use is reported; (2) the types of HMD most commonly reported; and (3) the surgical specialties in which HMD use is reported. Methods. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched through August 27, 2017, for publications describing HMD use during surgically relevant applications. We identified 120 relevant English-language, non-opinion publications for inclusion. HMD types were categorized as "heads-up" (nontransparent HMD display and direct visualization of the real environment), "see-through" (visualization of the HMD display overlaid on the real environment), or "non-see-through" (visualization of only the nontransparent HMD display). Results. HMDs were used for image guidance and augmented reality (70 publications), data display (63 publications), communication (34 publications), and education/training (18 publications). See-through HMDs were described in 55 publications, heads-up HMDs in 41 publications, and non-see-through HMDs in 27 publications. Google Glass, a see-through HMD, was the most frequently used model, reported in 32 publications. The specialties with the highest frequency of published HMD use were urology (20 publications), neurosurgery (17 publications), and unspecified surgical specialty (20 publications). Conclusion. Image guidance and augmented reality were the most commonly reported applications for which HMDs were used. See-through HMDs were the most commonly reported type used in surgically relevant applications. Urology and neurosurgery were the specialties with greatest published HMD use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between parental resilience and parenting styles and the impact of these characteristics on children's eating behaviors and weight. Through a quantitative examination, we found parental concerns about their child's weight positively relate to family attitudes toward fruits and vegetables but negatively relate to actual consumption of fruits and vegetables. Contrarily, advance planning of healthy meals among parents is negatively associated with family attitudes toward fruits and vegetables but positively associated with children's consumption of fruits and vegetables. Family attitudes toward fruits and vegetables have a significant influence on children's consumption of fruits and vegetables. The personal competence component of parental resilience has a significant moderating influence on the relationship between parental concerns about their child's weight and his or her consumption of fruits and vegetables. The "acceptance of self and life" component of parental resilience has a significant moderating influence on the relationship between advance planning of healthy meals among parents and children's consumption of fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navigating large-scale environments involves dynamic interactions between the physical world and individuals’ knowledge, goals, and strategies. Time pressure can result from self-imposed goals or relatively dynamic situational factors that induce varied constraints. While time pressure is ubiquitous in daily life and has been shown to influence affective states, cost-benefit analyses, and strategy selection, its influence on navigation behaviour is unknown. The present study examined how introducing varied time constraints during virtual urban navigation would influence spatial strategies and impact the efficiency and effectiveness of goal-directed wayfinding. Participants learned a large-scale urban virtual environment by wayfinding between a series of 20 successive landmark goals (e.g.,You have reached the Theater. Now find the Bank.). A day later, they again performed the same task, but landmark-to-landmark trials were characterized by conditions of low-, moderate-, or high-pressure time limits as quantified by a pilot experiment. As time pressure increased, participants more likely navigated along previously experienced paths and less likely travelled in the global direction of the destination. Results suggest strategy shifts under time constraints that increase reliance on egocentric, route-based strategies and decrease reliance on global configural knowledge, probably in an attempt to reduce cognitive demands and support performance under pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research explores whether relationships between young firms and certain early-stage seed funders portray certification effects that influence venture capitalist (VC) screening decisions. Specifically, we analyze how varying attributes of angel and crowdfunded investments certify venture quality in the minds of VCs as they make due diligence screening decisions. Results from two experiments utilizing 104 VCs making 1,036 screening decisions demonstrate that the heterogeneous nature of the attributes of angels and the crowd can produce highly influential certification effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, the incoming Coalition government announced that it would publish details of meetings between ministers and outside interests. We have collated and coded these data and, in this article, describe patterns of access between 2010 and 2015. In some respects, access is notably fragmented. No single organisation attends more than 2.5% of the 6292 meetings held by ministers. On the contrary, business, collectively, attends fully 45% of all meetings: more than twice the share of any other category of organisation. We alsofind evidence of distinctive policy communities characterised by high levels of access between particular interests and ministers within specific departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although electrical stimulation (ES) can improve nerve regeneration, the impact of nerve block, such as lidocaine (Lido), on the therapeutic benefits of ES remains unclear. We used a rat tibial nerve transection-and-repair model to explore how either preoperative (PreOp) or postoperative (PostOp) nerve block affects ES-related improvement in regeneration. Methods: Lewis rats were used in 1 of 2 studies. The first evaluated the effects of extraneural Lido on both healthy and injured nerves. In the second study, rats were randomized to 5 experimental groups: No ES (negative control), PreOp Lido, ES + PreOp Lido, PostOp + ES, and ES (positive control). All groups underwent tibial nerve transection and repair. In both studies, nerves were harvested for histological analysis of regeneration distal to the injury site. Results: Application of extraneural Lido did not damage healthy or injured nerve based on qualitative histological observations. In the context of nerve transection and repair, the ES group exhibited improved axon regeneration at 21 days measured by the total number of myelinated fibers compared with No ES. Fiber density and percentage of neural tissue in the ES group were greater than those in both No ES and PreOp Lido + ES groups. ES + PostOp Lido was not different from No ES or ES group. Conclusions: Extraneural application of Lido did not damage nerves. Electrical stimulation augmented nerve regeneration, but Lido diminished the ES-related improvement in nerve regeneration. Clinical studies on the effects of ES to nerve regeneration may need to consider nerve block as a variable affecting ES outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nerve regeneration in vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) is not well understood. Allogeneic transplant models experience complete loss of nerve tissue and axonal regeneration without immunosuppressive therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of incomplete immunosuppression on nerve regeneration. Methods: In this study, transgenic mice (4 groups in total) with endogenous fluorescent protein expression in axons (Thy1-YFP) and Schwann cells (S100-GFP) were used to evaluate axonal regeneration and Schwann cell (SC) migration in orthotopic-limb VCA models with incomplete immunosuppression using Tacrolimus (FK506). Survival and complication rates were assessed to determine the extent of tissue rejection. Nerve regeneration was assessed using serial imaging of axonal progression and SC migration and viability. Histomorphometry quantified the extent of axonal regeneration. Results: Incomplete immunosuppression with FK506 resulted in delayed rejection of skin, muscle, tendon, and bone in the transplanted limb. In contrast, the nerve demonstrated robust axonal regeneration and SC viability based on strong fluorescent protein expression by SCs and axons in transgenic donors and recipients. Total myelinated axon numbers measured at 8 weeks were comparable in all VCA groups and not statistically different from the syngeneic donor control group. Conclusions: Our data suggest that nerve and SCs are much weaker antigens compared with skin, muscle, tendon, and bone in VCA. To our knowledge, this study is the first to prove the weak antigenicity of nerve tissue in the orthotopic VCA mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concepts of 'politicisation' and 'depoliticisation' have become increasingly used by political scientists over the last decade, in light of the presumed 'triumph' of neoliberal ideology in the 1990s, and its subsequent challenge ('re-politicisation') by the 2008 financial crisis. Debate has emerged in the literature, however, over what conceptual strategy is best for critically analysing depoliticisation - 'broad' or 'narrow'. This article argues for attempting to find common ground among 'competing' definitions, by viewing politicisation and depoliticisation as 'multilevel' concepts, with theoretical, analytical and empirical purchase. The uniting theme, it is argued, is a critical analysis of the dynamics of neoliberalism as a paradigm of political thought, and how that paradigm allegedly leads to the rise of 'anti-politics'. Thinking about (de)politicisation in this way helps avoid facile conceptual reinvention and stimulates a coherent yet pluralistic research agenda focused on translating insights and criticism across macro, meso and micro levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on depoliticisation emphasises how blame is shifted away from governments due to tactics employed by politicians. The argument of this article is that the analytical utility of this approach can be significantly enhanced by also examining the conduct of non-state actors, and broader contextual factors. Using a detailed case study of record flooding in the UK in 2007, the article shows how, despite significant failures in flood preparation, the agenda-setting and preference-shaping actions of politicians and the media, and the 'path-shaping' effects of a benign political context and volatile and unstable policy area, the government was largely absolved of blame in the eyes of the public. In particular, the article highlights a paradox of drivers that appear simultaneously politicising and depoliticising, but lead ultimately to depoliticisation. It is argued that these 'paradoxical' factors can be conceptualised usefully through a distinctive model of depoliticisation and securitisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercialization of university-held research discoveries is increasingly seen as a promising source of revenue, and a growing number of universities are adding policies and incentives in an attempt to encourage commercialization activities. The effectiveness of these efforts is in jeopardy, however, because these changes can unintentionally create an environment ripe for misalignment between policies and incentives and university scientists' work identity. We develop a conceptual model that suggests such changes trigger moral and hedonistic cognitive dissonance, and in reaction scientists can engage in identity adaptation via distinct pathways, leading to different levels of commercialization engagement intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a supposedly 'anti-political' age, the scholarly literature on celebrity politicians argues that politicians gain popularity by adopting strategies from within the world of entertainment. This article offers the findings of a research project that has detected a marked shift in the interplay between celebrity culture and the presentational strategies adopted by politicians. At the heart of this shift is an increased focus on the concept of 'normality' as politicians increasingly attempt to shake-off the negative connotations associated with 'professional politicians' and instead attempt to appear 'just like us'. As such, this article offers an original approach by distinguishing between 'superstar' celebrity politicians and 'everyday' celebrity politicians before identifying three aspects of each strategy (i.e. media platform, marketing technique and performative role). It offers numerous empirical examples that serve to underpin this distinction before using the example of Boris Johnson as a case study in the attempted shift from 'superstar' to 'everyday' celebrity. This focus on normality offers a fresh entry-point into the analysis of contemporary political statecraft while also posing distinctive questions about the tension between political popularity and credibility in an anti-political age. As such, the approach also has significant implications for normative ideas about how celebrity can be 'democratised' to remedy anti-politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of social marketing in achieving health equality and social change in the context of obesity, one of the most serious global public health issues we face today. Social marketing has traditionally taken a downstream focus, targeting individuals to change their behavior. This article takes a critical perspective, supporting moves toward upstream social marketing and applying a socioecological model to social marketing theory. At the macrolevel, the marketing activities of some companies and social–economic environment mean it is difficult for some consumers to make healthy choices—for example, food and drink. At the microlevel, there is robust evidence parenting style and quality of preschool education during the critical early years’ period of child development profoundly influences long-term health and life outcomes. Ecological models enable social marketers and policy makers to understand which interventions are likely to reduce inequality through sustainable, holistic positive behavior change compared with short-term, issue-based programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights and Abstract This article: Covers new empirical terrain in the study of depoliticisation, with an in-depth case study of health technology regulation;, Analyses depoliticisation from a novel analytical perspective, examining how depoliticised institutions are resilient to external pressure for politicisation;, Posits a distinctive framework for analysing resilience, drawing on cognate literatures on policy networks and agencification;, Raises interesting and distinctive questions about the nature of depoliticisation in advanced liberal democracies, arguing it is more contested than commonly acknowledged., Depoliticisation as a concept offers distinctive insights into how governments attempt to relieve political pressures in liberal democracies. Analysis has examined the effects of depoliticisation tactics on the public, but not how those tactics are sustained during moments of political tension. Drawing on policy networks and agencification literatures, this article examines how these tactics are resilient against pressure for politicisation. Using an in-depth case study of the controversial appraisal of cancer drug Herceptin in 2005/6 by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence ( NICE), the article examines how 'resilient' NICE was to external politicisation. It is argued that NICE was resilient because it was effectively 'insulated' by formal procedures and informal norms of deference to scientific expertise. This mechanism is termed 'institutional double glazing'. The conclusion suggests developments to the conceptual and methodological framework of depoliticisation, and highlights theoretical insights into the nature of 'anti-politics' in contemporary democracies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individual contributions of exogenous Schwann cells (SCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated in acellular nerve allografts (ANAs). ANA processing removes SCs and vasculature, likely contributing to reduced regeneration compared to autografts. Exogenous SCs may improve the regenerative microenvironment, and VEGF has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis. Replacing these components in ANAs may improve regeneration. Methods: A rat sciatic nerve transection model was used to study 20-mm grafts. Four graft types were studied: (1) isograft, (2) ANA, (3) ANA-SCs, and (4) ANA-VEGF. After 10 weeks in vivo, the midgraft and distal nerve to the grafts were analyzed for axonal regeneration using histomorphometry to assess total myelinated axon counts, density, width, and percent neural tissue. Results: The most axons in the distal nerve were regenerated in the isograft followed by the ANA- SC group, with 9171 ± 1822 and 7103 ± 1576 regenerated axons respectively. Both the ANA and ANA-VEGF groups had significantly fewer regenerated axons compared to the isograft ( p < 0.05) with 5225 ± 2994 and 5709 ± 2657 regenerated axons, respectively. The ANA and ANA-VEGF groups also had significantly reduced fiber density and percent nerve compared to the isograft; the isograft and ANA-SC groups were not significantly different ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results show that SCs improve axonal regeneration in a 20 mm ANA to a greater extent than VEGF. VEGF treatment showed a trend toward increased axonal regeneration but was not significantly different compared to the untreated ANA. The role of VEGF may be clearer in longer grafts where ischemia is a greater factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent debates and controversies have highlighted several issues surrounding sociological research, which relate to the general conditions under which it is undertaken and how this is changing. There is a pressing need to respond to these issues as a whole, in particular by examining what they tell us about research practices. This article argues that a consideration of themes raised by the American television drama The Wire is useful for facilitating such a response, since it may be read as a discussion of working conditions within neoliberal societies. The following themes are pertinent here: the need to reflect upon the terms by which research is framed by funders, to take adequate time to conduct and complete research, and to encourage critical debate within research. Whilst these relate to influential epistemological discussions by Pierre Bourdieu and Michael Burawoy, this reading of The Wire is particularly helpful for highlighting the practical and inter-relational situations in which sociological research is carried out but which tend not to receive the systematic attention they deserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that scholars overestimate the ability of a methodologically 'pluralistic' political science to gain impact in policymaking, which in Britain is increasingly 'positivist', privileging quantitative evidence. This 'relevance gap' between pluralistic political science and positivistic policymaking means that political scientists are disadvantaged in achieving 'impact' compared to disciplines like behavioural economics. The article proposes two solutions to bridge this 'gap': improving the 'accessibility' of research and stimulating 'interaction' between researchers and policymakers through methodological workshops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on agency and configurations theories, this study examines how perceived level of control over the entrepreneur influences venture capitalist ( VC) decision making. We model the direct effects of perceived control and the interactive effects of control with entrepreneurial prestige and opportunity attractiveness to determine how various combinations of factors influence VCs' willingness to invest. We test our conceptualizations using conjoint analyses of 552 VC investment decisions. The results show that perceived control is directly related to investment likelihood, but different configurations of control, entrepreneur prestige, and opportunity attractiveness result in different outcomes. Our findings support a configurational perspective of VC decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a development of research published by the authors (Wood and Fowlie, 2010) and explores the role of relationships and social networks within a social marketing approach to community communications in the UK. An understanding of their importance and value in delivering cost-effective customer-oriented services has grown significantly in the current political climate of cost cutting and ‘Big Society’. Specifically, it evaluates the effectiveness of using innovative communications channels – with community communicators playing a central role – to increase trust and positive perceptions of local government amongst resident networks in the London Boroughs of Sutton, Havering and Bexley. The article aims to provide practitioners with practical suggestions to address these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Given the increasing attention to traditionally less 'rational' entrepreneurial behaviors, such as bricolage, we used grounded theory techniques to study 23 diverse entrepreneurs. From this, we developed a five-category typology of entrepreneurial behavior that includes art, craft, engineering, bricolage, and brokerage. Themes such as self-perceived identity, organization of space, integration of materials, sense of personal limits, and responsiveness to changing market conditions were observed along categorical lines. We discuss the significance of the typology and each category's associations with venture longevity and financial performance for practitioners and for the study of entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical concept of ‘social capital’ has been increasingly invoked in connection to religion by academics, policy-makers, charities and faith based organizations (FBOs). Drawing on the popularization of the term by Robert Putnam, many in these groups have hailed the religious as one of the most virulent generators of social capital in today’s societies. In this article, the authors examine this claim through ethnographic material relating to Faithworks, a national ‘movement’ of Christians who provide welfare services within their communities. The authors claim that to apply the term ‘social capital’ in a meaningful sociological manner to FBOs requires a return to Bourdieu’s use of the term and a refusal to extricate it from the practices in which it is enmeshed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how the critical elements of 'developing relationships' and 'understanding emotions' within a social marketing framework can be used to influence local government strategy and communications aimed at improving community cohesion and addressing negative myths. Under New Labour, community cohesion became a national and local priority. This is a case study of how one local authority - The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) - has addressed this issue by taking a social marketing approach. The paper also briefly discusses the 'tone of voice' adopted by LBBD in response to extensive insight work before outlining an innovative staff training programme. Most front-line staff have now participated in this programme, and the authors are currently evaluating its effectiveness in improving communications and cohesion within the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an integrative theory, through the use of transaction cost theory principles, that attempts to match the attributes of university-held innovations with the specific organizational form that best supports the identified attributes in innovation commercialization efforts. Two commonly utilized organizational forms are considered: the spin-off and the technology license agreement. Additionally, innovation transfer is conceptualized as a transaction and each of the organizational forms is considered an alternate governance mechanism for the management of the commercialization transaction. It is further conceptualized that by minimizing transaction costs, through the proper selection of the organizational form, universities may increase the odds of successful revenue generation from their entrepreneurial efforts. The overall goal of the paper is to enhance our understanding of proper organizational form-innovation attribute alignment as a key driver of innovation commercialization success, so that universities and their industry partners can increase their effectiveness in commercialization activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the sociology of religion there has emerged a discourse on spirituality that views contemporary developments as involving the assertion of individuals' self-authority. This perspective's theoretical roots have been persistently criticized for their conceptualization of agency; in contrast, this article draws on Bourdieu's concept of strategy to examine action in an English religious network of the sort often classified as 'New Age'. In particular, one informant is discussed in order to provide focus for an understanding of what Lahire calls sociology at the level of the individual. Her actions, better explained as strategic improvisations than as choices made on the basis of self-authority, help to illuminate the peculiarities of this religious setting, which is characterized in terms of 'nonformativeness'. By emphasizing social contextualization, this approach addresses people's meaningful actions in a way that may be applied not only more widely within the religious field but also in other fields of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes a critical view of the application of marketing theory and concepts, particularly exchange and the marketing mix, to social marketing situations. It draws upon my experience of using traditional concepts and models in the training of health professionals, in addition to the literature. Conceptually and practically there are problems in understanding and applying concepts such as exchange, value, and the 4Ps. The use of behavioral change models adds complexity to the setting and measurement of goals and it can be difficult to identify and sell the benefits of these changes in a similar way to commercial product marketing. Commercial marketing itself is changing with the growth of relationship marketing, interactive communications, and the critical impact of branding. It is argued that social marketing theory and practice needs reconsidering in the light of these developments. There are also important ethical considerations when attempting to introduce marketing concepts and language to health professionals. Following a detailed analysis of the nature of exchange in social marketing, my article considers each of the 4Ps in turn before drawing conclusions and raising questions and issues for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the labor supply of the fop golfers on the American PGA tour from 1997 to 2003. Three hypotheses ore proposed about the participation rates of these players to show that the purse alone is not enough to explain entry. The participation rate proves to be influenced by the characteristics of other tournaments and seasonal effects. The participation rate and the purse ore shown to hove an endogeneity problem. And players prefer to play golf tournaments that they have played in before and played well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building the Civic University? In the age of Brexit and political polarisation, can universities facilitate debate and the discussions beyond their walls? Nine out of ten university staff said they would vote to remain in the European Union in 2016, while research shows not having a university education was one of the strongest predictors of voting Leave. [Extracted from the article]

The author discusses the attitudes of senior British civil servants towards academic research, focusing the types of information policymakers want when formulating decisions. Topics include civil servants' preference for quantitative research; a discussion of their sources of academic knowledge; and the degree of collaboration between academics and policymakers.

Photograph taken by Cally Gatehouse, James Pickles and Matt Wood. Taken as part of a focus group exercise with LGBT+ young people (under 18 years old), who were asked to design "devices" on how to tackle and report anti-LGBT+ hate crime. The young person explained his design, depicted above, as a form of resistance to anti-LGBT+ hate:. [Extracted from the article]