Archeological Assessments at 41GL57 and 41GL91, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Gillespie County, Texas

Archeological assessments at Sites 41GL57 and 41GL91 in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area are described in this report prepared by Steven M. Kotter and Linda A. Nance . Sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, these assessments represent an excellent example of sensitivity to cultural resources during the planning stages of development designed to enhance visitor utilization and appreciation of Enchanted Rock. Significant findings at Site 41GL57 include the identification of specific areas of intact prehistoric deposits which yielded artifacts of the Late Archaic and Late Prehistoric periods. Methods to achieve compatibility of development plans with the preservation of the sensitive archeological materials are provided. At Site 41GL91 , the prehistoric component was found to be badly disturbed and to be of insufficient integrity to warrant further archeological attention. The existing Historic Period structures at this site were all found to have been constructed after 1900; none are considered to be of archeological significance. Planned developments at Site 41GL91 will not conflict with identified significant cultural resources

Micro market based optimisation framework for decentralised management of distributed flexibility assets

Continuously changing electricity demand and intermittent renewable energy sources pose challenges to the operation of power systems. An alternative to reinforcing the grid infrastructure is to deploy and manage distributed energy storage systems. In this work, a micro-energy market is proposed for smart domestic energy trading in the low-voltage distribution systems in the context of high penetration of photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage systems. In addition, a micro-balancing market is proposed to address the congestions due to unforeseen energy imbalance. Centralised and decentralised management strategies are simulated in real time, based on generation and demand forecasts. In addition, electric vehicles are also simulated as potential storage solutions to improve grid operation. A techno-economic evaluation informs key stakeholders, in particular grid operators on strategies for a sustainable implementation of the proposed strategies. The results show that the micro-energy market reduces the energy cost for all grid users by 4.1–20.2%, depending on their configuration. In addition, voltage deviation, peak electricity demand and reverse power flow have been reduced by 12.8%, 7.7% and 85.6% respectively, with the proposed management strategies. The micro-balancing market has been demonstrated to keep the voltage profile and thermal characteristic within the set limit in case of contingency

Genetics of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Candidate Gene Studies

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is estimated to be the most common cause of adult spinal cord impairment. Evidence that is suggestive of a genetic basis to DCM has been increasing over the last decade. A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and HuGENet databases from their origin up to 14th December 2019 to evaluate the role of single genes in DCM in its onset, clinical phenotype, and response to surgical intervention. The initial search yielded 914 articles, with 39 articles being identified as eligible after screening. We distinguish between those contributing to spinal column deterioration and those contributing to spinal cord deterioration in assessing the evidence of genetic contributions to DCM. Evidence regarding a total of 28 candidate genes was identified. Of these, 22 were found to have an effect on the radiological onset of spinal column disease, while 12 genes had an effect on clinical onset of spinal cord disease. Polymorphisms of eight genes were found to have an effect on the radiological severity of DCM, while three genes had an effect on clinical severity. Polymorphisms of six genes were found to have an effect on clinical response to surgery in spinal cord disease. There are clear genetic effects on the development of spinal pathology, the central nervous system (CNS) response to bony pathology, the severity of both bony and cord pathology, and the subsequent response to surgical intervention. Work to disentangle the mechanisms by which the genes that are reviewed here exert their effects, as well as improved quality of evidence across diverse populations is required for further investigating the genetic contribution to DCM

Change management: The case of the elite sport performance team

The effective and efficient implementation of change is often required for both successful performance and management survival across a host of contemporary domains. However, although of major theoretical and practical significance, research to date has overlooked the application of change management (hereafter CM) knowledge to the elite sport performance team environment. Considering that the success of ‘off-field’ sports businesses are largely dependent on the performances of their ‘on-field’ team, this article explores the application of current CM theorizing to this specific setting and the challenges facing its utility. Accordingly, we identify the need and importance of developing theory specific to this area, with practical application in both sport and business, through examination of current knowledge and identification of the domain's unique, dynamic and contested properties. Markers of successful change are then suggested to guide initial enquiry before the article concludes with proposed lines of research which may act to provide a valid and comprehensive theoretical account of CM to optimize the research and practice of those working in the field

Medicare for all

OBJECTIVES: Interferon (IFN) alpha is a key immunoregulatory cytokine secreted by activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) that constitute less than 1% of leucocytes. IFNalpha plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, the natural IFNalpha inducers in SLE as well as the different IFNalpha secreting cell types are only partially characterised. METHODS: Chromatin was purified from calf thymus. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), neutrophils and mouse bone marrow neutrophils were purified and cultured with different stimuli. IFNalpha production was estimated by flow cytometry, ELISA and a bioassay, and gene expression by quantitative real time PCR. Neutrophil activation and NETosis were analysed by flow cytometry, ELISA and confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Neutrophils produced a bioactive IFNalpha on stimulation with purified chromatin. IFNalpha secretion was observed with steady state neutrophils purified from 56 independent healthy individuals and autoimmune patients in response to free chromatin and not chromatin containing immune complexes. Chromatin induced IFNalpha secretion occurred independently of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). Neutrophil priming by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor or IFNalpha was not necessary but PBMC sustained IFNalpha secretion by neutrophils. PDC were 27 times more efficient than neutrophils but blood neutrophils were 100 times more frequent than PDC. Finally, neutrophil activation by chromatin was associated with NETosis and DNA sensor upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophils have the capability of producing IFNalpha on selective triggering, and we identified a natural lupus stimulus involved, unveiling a new mechanism involved in SLE. Neutrophils represent another important source of IFNalpha and important targets for future therapies aimed at influencing IFNalpha levels

Exploring leadership in multi-sectoral partnerships

This article explores some critical aspects of leadership in the context of multi-sectoral partnerships. It focuses on leadership in practice and asks the question, `How do managers experience and perceive leadership in such partnerships?' The study contributes to the debate on whether leadership in a multi-sectoral partnership context differs from that within a single organization. It is based on the accounts of practising managers working in complex partnerships. The article highlights a number of leadership challenges faced by those working in multi-sectoral partnerships. Partnership practitioners were clear that leadership in partnerships was more complex than in single organizations. However, it was more difficult for them to agree a consensus on the essential nature of leadership in partnership. We suggest that a first-, second- and third-person approach might be a way of better interpreting leadership in the context of partnerships

The most creative organization in the world? The BBC, 'creativity' and managerial style

The managerial styles of two BBC directors-general, John Birt and Greg Dyke, have often been contrasted but not so far analysed from the perspective of their different views of 'creative management'. This article first addresses the orthodox reading of 'Birtism'; second, it locates Dyke's 'creative' turn in the wider context of fashionable neo-management theory and UK government creative industries policy; third, it details Dyke's drive to change the BBC's culture; and finally, it concludes with some reflections on the uncertainties inherent in managing a creative organisation

Reported Outcome Measures in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Degenerative cervical myelopathy [DCM] is a disabling and increasingly prevalent group of diseases. Heterogeneous reporting of trial outcomes limits effective inter-study comparison and optimisation of treatment. This is recognised in many fields of healthcare research. The present study aims to assess the heterogeneity of outcome reporting in DCM as the premise for the development of a standardised reporting set. METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015025497) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Full text articles in English, with >50 patients (prospective) or >200 patients (retrospective), reporting outcomes of DCM were eligible. RESULTS: 108 studies, assessing 23,876 patients, conducted world-wide, were identified. Reported outcome themes included function (reported by 97, 90% of studies), complications (reported by 56, 52% of studies), quality of life (reported by 31, 29% of studies), pain (reported by 29, 27% of studies) and imaging (reported by 59, 55% of studies). Only 7 (6%) studies considered all of domains in a single publication. All domains showed variability in reporting. CONCLUSIONS: Significant heterogeneity exists in the reporting of outcomes in DCM. The development of a consensus minimum dataset will facilitate future research synthesis.MRNK is supported by NIHR Clinician Scientist Award; PJAH holds a NIHR research professorship.This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by the Public Library of Science