Development and validation of an ELISA to detect antibodies to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in ovine sera

Several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed for the detection of antibodies to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). However, none are commercially available in the UK. It was therefore necessary to develop a new, economic ELISA for use in a research project studying the epidemiology of CLA in UK sheep. The ELISA with its diagnostic qualities is presented. The ELISA was developed using sonicated C. pseudotuberculosis and optimised to detect total antibody or IgG class antibody in serum. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained and the area under the ROC curve was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the two ELISAs. Both versions of the ELISA were evaluated on a panel of 150 positive reference sera and 103 negative reference sera. Using the test at 100% specificity, the sensitivity of detection of total antibody was 71% (95% confidence interval 63-78%), and the 2 sensitivity of detection of IgG antibody to C. pseudotuberculosis was 83% (76-89%), which compares favourably with other reported ELISA tests for CLA in sheep. The sensitivity of the IgG antibody assay may be higher because of the greater affinity of IgG class antibodies compared with the IgM antibodies also detected by the total antibody ELISA. The results of ROC analysis indicated that the IgG isotype ELISA was more accurate than the total antibody ELISA. The efficiency of the test was greatest when serum samples were run in a dilution series than when any single serum dilution was used. The ELISA is considered to be suitable for application in field studies of CLA in UK sheep

The universities of Manchester and Helsinki: Different paths

Comparing the experience of neoliberal reform at the Universities of Manchester and Helsinki shows that not all forms of neoliberalization are the same, despite the similarities in structural changes. In this case, the key difference has to do with the the social value attached to the content of scholarship, and to what universities do. In Manchester, the reforms were in the name of trying to achieve excellence, full stop; in Helsinki, the reforms were in the name of trying to achieve excellence for a reason: to better serve scholarship and the social good. This difference suggests that there is nothing inevitable about neoliberal reform: the outcome is contingent, and that generates hope.Comparing the experience of neoliberal reform at the Universities of Manchester and Helsinki shows that not all forms of neoliberalization are the same, despite the similarities in structural changes. In this case, the key difference has to do with the the social value attached to the content of scholarship, and to what universities do. In Manchester, the reforms were in the name of trying to achieve excellence, full stop; in Helsinki, the reforms were in the name of trying to achieve excellence for a reason: to better serve scholarship and the social good. This difference suggests that there is nothing inevitable about neoliberal reform: the outcome is contingent, and that generates hope

Relations and Separations

Short contribution about the rise of populism and nationalist xenophobia in Greece.Non peer reviewe

Unilateral commitments to persons with disabilities of armed non-state de facto authorities that govern

A central idea behind this dissertation relates to the efficacy of ‘outside’ interventions that target and/or seek to better understand the situation of persons with disabilities in territories governed by armed non-State de facto authorities. Its core premise is that such interventions are likely to be more effective if informed by deep knowledge of the disability pertinent normative environments of these authorities. Unilateral commitments of the authorities to persons with disabilities comprise an important component of these environments. To date little is known about the extent, form and genesis of such commitments – or, indeed, the situation more widely of persons with disabilities in territories under consideration. This dissertation responds to this lack of knowledge through a desk-based scoping review, analysis and case study. It finds that a broad range of armed non-State de facto authorities that govern regularly and explicitly make commitments to persons with disabilities. Their analysis through two complementary lenses - models of disability and legitimacy - suggests that an individual deficit response to persons with disabilities predominates. The welfare of veterans with physical disabilities is frequently prioritized over that of civilian persons with disabilities. Evidence of persons with disabilities’ influence on the development and form of commitments made is not strong but clearly discernable in isolated instances. The possible role of commitments in legitimation processes is most apparent in commitments to physically disabled veterans and public endorsement of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The commitments collated, presented and analysed highlight a breadth and complexity within responses to disability by armed non-State de facto authorities that govern. This demands significant further multi-disciplinary research, research to which outside intervenors can both contribute and draw. The conclusion therefore lays out a future multiple-disciplinary research agenda for this new field of enquiry. Potential fruitful avenues of research include longitudinal studies of non-State armed de facto authorities that govern that have explicitly endorsed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and ideological, diasporic and other situational influences on the development, evolution and implementation of commitments to persons with disabilities more generally

Mediterranean Mediations

Commentary on the articles in a special issue on the Mediterranean, providing background commentary on the status of Mediterranean research in anthropology.Peer reviewe

When Infrastructures Fail : An Ethnographic Note in the Middle of an Aegean Crisis

This paper studies the coming together of two large-scale infrastructural failures in Greece in 2015: the banking system, which came to a halt because of the Greek fiscal crisis combined with the calling of a referendum on whether to accept further 'austerity' from the EU negotiators in return for a further bailout; and the numbers of refugees and other undocumented migrants arriving in Greece at exactly the same time, causing a general collapse in the state authority's capacity to manage the new arrivals. The paper argues that both of these failures reveal the deep interdependence of Greek infrastructures with others, and how that condition creates specific kinds of relative value for Greece and Greeks.Peer reviewe

Making it Right in the End: Conflict on the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the role of social workers in addressing conflict on the hospice interdisciplinary team. Seven semi-structured interviews were completed to generate qualitative data from licensed social workers on hospice interdisciplinary teams in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A brief review of literature showed there are many causes of conflict on the hospice interdisciplinary team including role blurring, leadership in the interdisciplinary team, and physical aspects of care superseding psychosocial. There are many studies exploring social work roles on the hospice interdisciplinary team, factors contributing to success on an interdisciplinary team in a hospice setting, and communication on a hospice interdisciplinary team. There have been few comprehensive studies exploring the experiences of social workers in addressing or managing conflict within a hospice interdisciplinary team. Analysis of the interviews indicated the importance of positive and negative previous experiences with conflict, organizational structure, communication, theoretical perspectives and values, time, and conflict as an opportunity for positive change. Hospice interdisciplinary teams rely on social workers to bridge the gaps between various disciplines in order to decrease conflict and promote effective collaboration. This research may enhance the ability of social workers in understanding the roles, challenges, and strengths of conflict resolution on an interdisciplinary team as way to provide better end-of-life care. These finding suggest future research is needed to ensure all interdisciplinary team members have adequate training on roles within the team and the importance of integrating social work perspectives within the medical model to improve care at end-of-life