C-reactive protein mediates CD11b expression in monocytes through the non-receptor tyrosine kinase, Syk, and calcium mobilization but not through cytosolic peroxides

Objective: C-Reactive protein (CRP) can modulate integrin surface expression on monocytes following Fcγ receptor engagement. We have investigated the signal transduction events causing this phenotypic alteration. Methods: CRP-induced signalling events were examined in THP-1 and primary monocytes, measuring Syk phosphorylation by Western blotting, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) by Indo-1 fluorescence and surface expression of CD11b by flow cytometry. Cytosolic peroxides were determined by DCF fluorescence. Results: CRP induced phosphorylation of Syk and an increase in [Ca2+]i both of which were inhibitable by the Syk specific antagonist, piceatannol. Piceatannol also inhibited the CRP-induced increase in surface CD11b. In addition, pre-treatment of primary monoytes with the Ca2+ mobiliser, thapsigargin, increased CD11b expression; this effect was accentuated in the presence of CRP but was abolished in the presence of the [Ca2+]i chelator, BAPTA. CRP also increased cytosolic peroxide levels; this effect was attenuated by antioxidants (ascorbate, α-tocopherol), expression of surface CD11b not being inhibited by antioxidants alone. Conclusion: CRP induces CD11b expression in monocytes through a peroxide independent pathway involving both Syk phosphorylation and [Ca2+]i release. © Birkhäuser Verlag, 2005.

Reform of the New Zealand Health System:problematization, mobilization and change

This paper will seek to explicate the changes in the New Zealand health sector informed by the concepts of problematization, inscription and the construction of networks (Callon, 1986; Latour, 1987, 1993). This will involve applying a framework of interpretation based on the concepts of Latour's sociology of translation. Material on problematization and inscription will be incorporated into the paper in order to provide an explanatory frame of reference which will enable us to make sense of the processes of change in the New Zealand health sector. The sociology of translation will be used to explain the processes which underlie the changes and will be used to capture effects, such as changes in policy and structure, producing new networks within which 'allies' could be enrolled in support of the health reforms.

Creating citizen-consumers:changing publics and changing public services - by John Clarke, Janet E. Newman, Nick Smith, Elizabeth Vidler and Louise Westmarland

Book review: John Clarke, Janet E. Newman, Nick Smith, Elizabeth Vidler and Louise Westmarland. Sage, 2007, 192 pp., £21.99 (pb), ISBN: 9781412921343

Creating citizen-consumers::changing publics and changing public services

Book review - The article has no abstract

Nitric oxide-dependent bone marrow progenitor mobilization by carbon monoxide enhances endothelial repair after vascular injury

Carbon monoxide (CO) has emerged as a vascular homeostatic molecule that prevents balloon angioplasty-induced stenosis via antiproliferative effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. The effects of CO on reendothelialization have not been evaluated.

Systematic financial resources allocation processes:a model for critical resources mobilization and deployment for nigerian universities

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to study the perceived impact of some factors on the resources allocation processes of the Nigerian universities and to suggest a framework that will help practitioners and academics to understand and improve such processes. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted the interpretive qualitative approach aimed at an ‘in-depth’ understanding of the resource allocation experiences of key university personnel and their perceived impact of the contextual factors affecting such processes. The analysis of individual narratives from each university established the conditions and factors impacting the resources allocation processes within each institution. Findings – The resources allocation process issues in the Nigerian universities may be categorised into people (core and peripheral units’ challenge, and politics and power); process (resources allocation processes); and resources (critical financial shortage and resources dependence response). The study also provides insight that resourcing efficiency in Nigerian universities appears strongly constrained by the rivalry among the resource managers. The efficient resources allocation process (ERAP) model is proposed to resolve the identified resourcing deficiencies. Research limitations/implications – The research is not focused to provide generalizable observations but ‘in-depth’ perceived factors and their impact on the resources allocation processes in Nigerian universities. The study is limited to the internal resources allocation issues within the universities and excludes the external funding factors. The resource managers’ responses to the identified factors may affect their internal resourcing efficiency. Further research using more empirical samples is required to obtain more widespread results and the implications for all universities. Originality/value – This study contributes a fresh literature framework to resources allocation processes focusing at ‘people’, ‘process’ and ‘resources’. Also a middle range theory triangulation is developed in relation to better understanding of resourcing process management. The study will be of interest to university managers and policy makers.

How good are citizen weather stations? Addressing a biased opinion

The UK is home to a dense network of Citizen Weather Stations (CWS) primarily set up by members of the public. The majority of these stations record air temperature, relative humidity and precipitation, amongst other variables, at sub-hourly intervals. This high resolution network could have benefits in many applications, but only if the data quality is well characterised. Here we present results from an intercomparison field study, in which popular CWS models were tested against Met Office standard equipment. The study identifies some common instrumental biases and their dependencies, which will help us to quantify and correct such biases from the CWS network.

Quantifying uncertainty in citizen weather data

The sheer volume of citizen weather data collected and uploaded to online data hubs is immense. However as with any citizen data it is difficult to assess the accuracy of the measurements. Within this project we quantify just how much data is available, where it comes from, the frequency at which it is collected, and the types of automatic weather stations being used. We also list the numerous possible sources of error and uncertainty within citizen weather observations before showing evidence of such effects in real data. A thorough intercomparison field study was conducted, testing popular models of citizen weather stations. From this study we were able to parameterise key sources of bias. Most significantly the project develops a complete quality control system through which citizen air temperature observations can be passed. The structure of this system was heavily informed by the results of the field study. Using a Bayesian framework the system learns and updates its estimates of the calibration and radiation-induced biases inherent to each station. We then show the benefit of correcting for these learnt biases over using the original uncorrected data. The system also attaches an uncertainty estimate to each observation, which would provide real world applications that choose to incorporate such observations with a measure on which they may base their confidence in the data. The system relies on interpolated temperature and radiation observations from neighbouring professional weather stations for which a Bayesian regression model is used. We recognise some of the assumptions and flaws of the developed system and suggest further work that needs to be done to bring it to an operational setting. Such a system will hopefully allow applications to leverage the additional value citizen weather data brings to longstanding professional observing networks.

Crowdsourcing, citizen science or volunteered geographic information? The current state of crowdsourced geographic information

Citizens are increasingly becoming an important source of geographic information, sometimes entering domains that had until recently been the exclusive realm of authoritative agencies. This activity has a very diverse character as it can, amongst other things, be active or passive, involve spatial or aspatial data and the data provided can be variable in terms of key attributes such as format, description and quality. Unsurprisingly, therefore, there are a variety of terms used to describe data arising from citizens. In this article, the expressions used to describe citizen sensing of geographic information are reviewed and their use over time explored, prior to categorizing them and highlighting key issues in the current state of the subject. The latter involved a review of 100 Internet sites with particular focus on their thematic topic, the nature of the data and issues such as incentives for contributors. This review suggests that most sites involve active rather than passive contribution, with citizens typically motivated by the desire to aid a worthy cause, often receiving little training. As such, this article provides a snapshot of the role of citizens in crowdsourcing geographic information and a guide to the current status of this rapidly emerging and evolving subject.

Citizen, customer, partner:engaging the public in public management

Book review: CITIZEN, CUSTOMER, PARTNER: ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT John Clayton Thomas M.E. Sharpe, 2012, 242 pp., £24.99 (hb), ISBN: 978–0765627209.