Climate social science—Any future for ‘blue sky research’ in management studies?

Summary The environmental humanities call for post-disciplinary approaches to meet the vexing problem of climate change. However, scholars have not scrutinised how management and organisation studies (MOS) could contribute to such an endeavour. This research note explores common surfaces of contact between the natural and social sciences, with the goal of unravelling the legitimate positions to speak from about climate change. The findings suggest that scholars in MOS are exposed to ecological reasoning, which undergirds underdog heroism, disciplinary confusion and a debasement of political subjectivity. As a counter strategy, I suggest that we affirm a ‘blue-sky research’ approach that would support alternative research paths and a more traditional will to know—to advance ‘climate social science’

Realising consilience: How better communication between archaeologists, historians and natural scientists can transform the study of past climate change in the Mediterranean

This paper reviews the methodological and practical issues relevant to the ways in which natural scientists, historians and archaeologists may collaborate in the study of past climatic changes in the Mediterranean basin. We begin by discussing the methodologies of these three disciplines in the context of the consilience debate, that is, attempts to unify different research methodologies that address similar problems. We demonstrate that there are a number of similarities in the fundamental methodology between history, archaeology, and the natural sciences that deal with the past (“palaeoenvironmental sciences”), due to their common interest in studying societal and environmental phenomena that no longer exist. The three research traditions, for instance, employ specific narrative structures as a means of communicating research results. We thus present and compare the narratives characteristic of each discipline; in order to engage in fruitful interdisciplinary exchange, we must first understand how each deals with the societal impacts of climatic change. In the second part of the paper, we focus our discussion on the four major practical issues that hinder communication between the three disciplines. These include terminological misunderstandings, problems relevant to project design, divergences in publication cultures, and differing views on the impact of research. Among other recommendations, we suggest that scholars from the three disciplines should aim to create a joint publication culture, which should also appeal to a wider public, both inside and outside of academia.This paper emerged as a result of a workshop at Costa Navarino and the Navarino Environmental Observatory (NEO), Greece in April 2014, which addressed Mediterranean Holocene climate and human societies. The workshop was co-sponsored by IGBP/PAGES, NEO, the MISTRALS/PaleoMex program, the Labex OT-Med, the Bolin Centre for Climate Research at Stockholm University, and the Institute of Oceanography at the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research. We also acknowledge funding from the National Science Centre, Poland, within the scheme of the Centre's postdoctoral fellowships (DEC-2012/04/S/HS3/00226 (A.I)); the Swedish Research Council (grant numbers 421-2014-1181 (E.W.) and 621-2012-4344 (K.H.)); CSIC-Ramón y Cajal post-doctoral program RYC-2013-14073 and Clare Hall College, Cambridge, Shackleton Fellowship (B.M.); the EU/FP7 Project ‘Sea for Society’ (Science and Society - 2011-1, 289066)

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Plasma levels of complement C3 is associated with development of hypertension: a longitudinal cohort study.

Hypertension has been associated with raised plasma levels of complement factor 3 and 4 (C3 and C4). The nature of this association is unclear. This population-based longitudinal study explored whether C3 or C4 is associated with development of hypertension. Blood pressure and plasma levels of C3 and C4 were determined in 2178 healthy men, aged 35-50 years, initially without treatment for hypertension. Incidence of hypertension and blood pressure increase over 15.7 (+/- 2.2) years follow-up was studied in relation to C3 and C4 at baseline. Among men with initially normal blood pressure (= 160/95 mm Hg or treatment) was 32, 42, 37 and 47%, respectively, for men with C3 in the first, second, third and fourth quartile (trend: P = 0.001). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors. Among men without blood pressure treatment, systolic BP increase (mean + standard error, adjusted for age, initial blood pressure and follow-up time) was 17.5 + 0.8, 19.6 + 0.9, 19.8 + 0.8 and 20.8 + 0.8 mm Hg, respectively, in the C3 quartiles (trend: P = 0.004). C3 was not associated diastolic blood pressure at follow-up. Although C4 was associated with blood pressure at the baseline examination, there was no relationship between C4 and development of hypertension or future blood pressure increase. It is concluded that C3 in plasma is associated with future blood pressure increase and development of hypertension

The enigma of increased non-cancer mortality after weight loss in healthy men who are overweight or obese.

Objective. To study effects on non-cancer mortality of observational weight loss in middle-aged men stratified for body mass index (BMI), taking a wide range of possible confounders into account. Design. Prospective, population based study. Setting. Male population of Malmö, Sweden. Participants. In all 5722 men were screened twice with a mean time interval of 6 years in Malmö, southern Sweden. They were classified according to BMI category at baseline (<21, 22-25, overweight: 26-30, and obesity: 30+ kg m-2) and weight change category until second screening (weight stable men defined as having a baseline BMI ± 0.1 kg m-2 year-1 at follow-up re-screening). Main outcome measures. Non-cancer mortality calculated from national registers during 16 years of follow-up after the second screening. Data from the first year of follow-up were excluded to avoid bias by mortality caused by subclinical disease at re-screening. Results. The relative risk (RR; 95% CI) for non-cancer mortality during follow-up was higher in men with decreasing BMI in all subgroups: RR 2.64 (1.46-4.71, baseline BMI <21 kg m-2), 1.39 (0.98-1.95, baseline BMI 22-25 kg m-2), and 1.71 (1.18-2.47, baseline BMI 26+ kg m-2), using BMI-stable men as reference group. Correspondingly, the non-cancer mortality was also higher in men with increasing BMI, but only in the obese group (baseline BMI 26+ kg m-2) with RR 1.86 (1.31-2.65). In a subanalysis, nonsmoking obese (30+ kg m-2) men with decreased BMI had an increased non-cancer mortality compared with BMI-stable obese men (Fischer's test: P=0.001). The mortality risk for nonsmoking overweight men who increased their BMI compared with BMI-stable men was also significant (P=0.006), but not in corresponding obese men (P=0.094). Conclusions. Weight loss in self-reported healthy but overweight middle-aged men, without serious disease, is associated with an increased non-cancer mortality, which seems even more pronounced in obese, nonsmoking men, as compared with corresponding but weight-stable men. The explanation for these observational findings is still enigmatic but could hypothetically be because of premature ageing effects causing so-called weight loss of involution

Lidar Measurements Supporting the Ocular Hazard Distance Calculation Using Atmospheric Attenuation

A series of lidar measurements has been performed at the Vidsel Test Range, Vidsel, situated in the inland of the very northern part of Sweden, as a part of an assessment of reducing the laser hazard distance using atmospheric attenuation within the calculations of nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD). The question was “How low is the atmospheric attenuation as function of height in this area, using a wavelength of 1064 nm?” The work included building a ground based backscatter lidar, performing a series of measurements and analyzing the results. The measurements were performed during June to November, 2014, with the objective to measure at clear air and good weather situations. The lidar measurements at 1064 nm showed a very low atmospheric attenuation as a function of height to altitudes of at least 10 km at several occasions. The lowest limit of backscatter coefficient possible to measure with this instrument is 0.3·10-7 m-1 sr-1. Assuming a lidar ratio varying between 30 – 100 sr, this was leading to an extinction coefficient of about 0.9 - 3·10-6 m-1. The atmospheric attenuation reduces the laser hazard distance with about 50 – 56 % depending on the lidar ratio. A recommendation is to monitor the atmospheric attenuation at the occasions when the method to the reduced laser hazard distance using atmospheric attenuation is used

Lidar Measurements Supporting the Ocular Hazard Distance Calculation Using Atmospheric Attenuation

A series of lidar measurements has been performed at the Vidsel Test Range, Vidsel, situated in the inland of the very northern part of Sweden, as a part of an assessment of reducing the laser hazard distance using atmospheric attenuation within the calculations of nominal ocular hazard distance (NOHD). The question was “How low is the atmospheric attenuation as function of height in this area, using a wavelength of 1064 nm?” The work included building a ground based backscatter lidar, performing a series of measurements and analyzing the results. The measurements were performed during June to November, 2014, with the objective to measure at clear air and good weather situations. The lidar measurements at 1064 nm showed a very low atmospheric attenuation as a function of height to altitudes of at least 10 km at several occasions. The lowest limit of backscatter coefficient possible to measure with this instrument is 0.3·10-7 m-1 sr-1. Assuming a lidar ratio varying between 30 – 100 sr, this was leading to an extinction coefficient of about 0.9 - 3·10-6 m-1. The atmospheric attenuation reduces the laser hazard distance with about 50 – 56 % depending on the lidar ratio. A recommendation is to monitor the atmospheric attenuation at the occasions when the method to the reduced laser hazard distance using atmospheric attenuation is used

Blood pressure increase and incidence of hypertension in relation to inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins.

Objective— The reasons for the relationship between inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins (ISPs) and incidence of cardiovascular diseases are poorly understood. This study explored the hypothesis that ISPs are associated with future hypertension and age-related blood pressure increase. Method and Results— Blood pressure and plasma levels of fibrinogen, {alpha}1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and orosomucoid were determined in 2262 healthy men aged 35 to 50 years, initially without treatment for hypertension. The cohort was re-examined after 15.7 (±2.2) years. Incidence of hypertension and blood pressure increase was studied in relation to number of elevated proteins (ie, in the top quartile) at baseline. Among men without treatment for hypertension at follow-up, mean (±SD) increase in systolic blood pressure was 18.8±17, 19.2±17, 19.3±17, and 22.1±18 mm Hg, respectively, for men with 0, 1, 2, and >=3 elevated proteins (P for trend=0.02, adjusted for confounders). The corresponding values for pulse pressure increase was 15.5±14, 15.8±14, 17.4±14, and 17.8±15 mm Hg, respectively (P=0.02). Incidence of hypertension (>=160/95 mm Hg or treatment) and future blood pressure treatment showed similar associations with ISPs. Increase in diastolic blood pressure showed no association with ISPs. Conclusions— Plasma levels of ISPs are associated with a future increase in blood pressure. This could contribute to the relationship between ISP levels and cardiovascular disease

Clinical presentation and predictors of survival related to extent of bone metastasis in 900 prostate cancer patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bone metastasis on survival and quality of life (QoL) in men with hormone-naive prostate cancer. Materials and methods: The study included 900 patients from a randomized trial (No. 5) by the Scandinavian Prostate Cancer Group, comparing parenteral oestrogen with total androgen blockade. Extent of bone metastasis was categorized according to a modified Soloway score: score 1, n=319; score 2, n = 483; and score 3, n = 98 patients. The primary outcome measurements were mean differences in QoL and overall survival. Results: QoL rating scales showed a decrease with increasing extent of bone metastasis (p amp;lt; 0.001). The mean global health status decreased from 64.4 to 50.5 for Soloway score 1 and 3, respectively. Following adjustment for performance status, analgesic consumption, grade of malignancy, alkaline phosphatase, prostate-specific antigen, haemoglobin and global health status, Soloway score 2 and 3 had a 47% [hazard ratio (HR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-1.80] and 78% (HR 1.78 95%, CI 1.32-2.42) increased mortality, respectively, compared to Soloway score 1. Independent predictive factors of mortality were assessed. Conclusions: Patient grouping based on three categories of extent of bone metastasis related to performance status, haemoglobin and global health status at presentation, as independent predictors of mortality, may provide improved accuracy of prognosis.Funding Agencies|Ferring AB, Malmo, Sweden; Ferring Laegemidler A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark; Pharmacia AB, Uppsala, Sweden; Schering-Plough AB, Stockholm, Sweden</p

Polyvinylalcohol-carbazate (PVAC) reduces red blood cell hemolysis

Background and objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate whether a soluble polymer and aldehyde-scavenger, polyvinylalcohol-carbazate (PVAC), can inhibit hemolysis in the storage of red blood cells (RBC). Study design and methods: The effect of PVAC was assessed over a wide range of concentrations, using absorption spectroscopy to evaluate the level of hemolysis. Moreover, osmotic stability and aldehyde-scavenging potential of RBC were assessed after storage in PVAC. Results: After test tube storage for two weeks, red blood cell hemolysis was lower with PVAC compared to controls (mean difference 23%, 95% CI 16-29%, p &lt; 0.001). A higher level of hemolysis led to a pronounced effect with PVAC. RBC stored in PVAC improved both the binding of free aldehydes (p &lt;0.001) and the osmotic stability (p = 0.0036). Conclusion: Erythrocytes stored with PVAC showed less hemolysis, which might be explained by the ability of PVACs to stabilize the cell membrane and decrease oxidative injury