Biomarkers in osteoarthritis

Biomarkers aid the study of osteoarthritis (OA) in a number of different ways. In this article we summarise briefly their multiple uses and reflect on how the study reported in a previous edition of Arthritis Research & Therapy should promote further investigation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). COMP is foremost among hitherto investigated biomarkers and is most consistently shown to predict knee OA progression. Precisely what role it plays in OA pathogenesis remains unclear and elucidating this may be key to defining, and then targeting, the cellular pathways involved in OA

Lift Coefficient Estimation for a Rapidly Pitching Airfoil

We develop a method for estimating the instantaneous lift coefficient on a rapidly pitching airfoil that uses a small number of pressure sensors and a measurement of the angle of attack. The approach assimilates four surface pressure measurements with a modified nonlinear state space model (Goman-Khrabrov model) through a Kalman filter. The error of lift coefficient estimates based only on a weighted-sum of the measured pressures are found to be noisy and biased, which leads to inaccurate estimates. The estimate is improved by including the predictive model in an conventional Kalman filter. The Goman-Khrabrov model is shown to be a linear parameter-varying system and can therefore be used in the Kalman filter without the need for linearization. Additional improvement is realized by modifying the algorithm to provide more accurate estimate of the lift coefficient. The improved Kalman filtering approach results in a bias-free lift coefficient estimate that is more precise than either the pressure-based estimate or the Goman-Khrabrov model on their own. The new method will enable performance enhancements in aerodynamic systems whose performance relies on lift

A Solidarity Machine? Hong Kong Labour NGOs in Guangdong

Although the literature on labour NGOs (LNGOs) in China has significantly expanded, few scholars have attempted to subject the work of these organizations to a Marxist perspective. This article draws on a recently developed Marxian theoretical framework on social movements to analyse the pioneering work of Hong Kong LNGOs and their partners in the province of Guangdong, China. Over the past 15 years, the Hong Kong groups, as they are known collectively, have been ideally placed to develop specific interventions in response to migrant workers’ pursuance of wage claims and improved working conditions during a time of increased rights awareness and widespread labour shortages. While consistently careful to remain the right side of China’s restrictive laws on freedom of association and demonstrations, the Hong Kong LNGOs were able to contribute to a narrative of class-based collective solidarity that has yielded significant gains for workers

Does milk cause constipation? a crossover dietary trial

The aims of this study were to: (1) determine whether replacement of cow’s milk protein with soy resolves Chronic Functional Constipation (CFC); and (2) investigate the effects of cow’s milk β casein A1 and cow’s milk β casein A2 on CFC. Children diagnosed with CFC were recruited to one of two crossover trials: Trial 1 compared the effects of cow’s milk and soy milk; Trial 2 compared the effects of cow’s milk β casein A1 and cow’s milk β casein A2. Resolution of constipation was defined as greater than eight bowel motions during a two week intervention. Thirteen children (18 to 144 months) participated in Trial 1 (6 boys, 7 girls). Nine participants who completed the soy epoch all experienced resolution (p < 0.05). Thirty-nine children (21 to 144 months) participated in Trial 2 (25 boys, 14 girls). Resolution of constipation was highest during the washout epoch, 81%; followed by cow’s milk β casein A2, 79%; and cow’s milk β casein A1, 57%; however, the proportions did not differ statistically. The results of Trial 1 demonstrate an association between CFC and cow’s milk consumption but Trial 2 failed to show an effect from type of casein. Some other component in cow’s milk common to both A1 and A2 milk may be causing a problem in these susceptible children

Distinguishing micro-businesses from SMEs: a systematic review of growth constraints

Purpose – Micro-businesses account for a large majority of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). However, they remain comparatively under-researched. This paper seeks to take stock of the extant literature on growth challenges, and to distinguish the growth constraints facing micro-business as a specific subset of SMEs from those facing larger SMEs. Design/methodology/approach – The study consists of a systematic review of 59 peer-reviewed articles on SME growth. Findings – Micro-businesses distinguish themselves from larger SMEs by being owner-manager entrepreneur (OME) centric and are constrained by a tendency to be growth-averse, underdeveloped capabilities in key business areas, underdeveloped OME capabilities, and often inadequate business support provision. Research limitations/implications – The use of keywords, search strings, and specific databases may have limited the number of papers identified as relevant by the review. However, the findings are valuable for understanding micro-businesses as a subset of SMEs, providing directions for future research and generating implications for policy to support the scaling up of micro-businesses. Originality/value – The review provides a renewed foundation for academic analysis of micro-business growth, highlighting how micro-businesses are distinct from larger SMEs. At present, no systematic literature review on this topic has previously been published and the study develops a number of theoretical and policy implications

Representation in Westminster in the 1990s : The ghost of Edmund Burke

Why are 'trustee' notions of representation still invoked in the UK House of Commons in the 1990s? In answering this question this article analyses the premises of Burkean theory and the arguments that these premises are of little relevance in the late twentieth century. Despite these dismissals of trusteeship, Burkean ideas are still articulated in the Commons some 200 years after they were first voiced. The idea of trusteeship can prove extremely useful to justify the actions of representatives when those actions conflict with constituency 'opinion', party policy or the wishes of interest groups. Examples of the occasions when Burkean notions have been invoked in the 1990s are provided

Filming the evolution of symbiotic novae with VLBI: The 2021 explosion of RS Oph

Fifteen years after its previous outburst, the symbiotic recurrent nova RS Oph exploded again on 2021 Aug 8th, its first outburst during the Fermi era. In symbiotic novae, the material ejected from the surface of the white dwarf (WD) after the thermonuclear runaway drives a strong shock through the dense circumstellar gas produced by the red giant (RG) wind. This nova is a perfect real-Time laboratory for studying physical processes as diverse as accretion, thermonuclear explosions, shock dynamics and particle acceleration; in many ways it is like a supernova remnant on fast forward. The experience of its previous outburst and that of 2010 for V407 (the symbiotic nova that has been extensively observed during the Fermi era), indicates that a large sensitivity and a broad range of baseline lengths are necessary to follow its evolution over a period of several weeks. This would provide unique constraints on major outstanding problems, including the emission mechanisms, the physical processes at work, the presence and location of shock acceleration, the geometry of the system, and the density of the RG wind. We present preliminary results from the EVN+e-MERLIN observations carried out on weeks/months time scales after the August explosion

Tracking the reflexivity of the (dis)engaged citizen: some methodological reflections

The relationship between governments and citizens in many contemporary democracies is haunted by uncertainty and sociologists face the task of listening effectively to citizens’ own reflections on this uncertain relationship. This article reflects on the qualitative methodology of a recently completed UK project which used a combination of diary and multiple interviews/ focus groups to track over a fieldwork period of up to a year citizens’ reflections on their relationship to a public world and the contribution to this of their media consumption. In particular, the article considers how the project’s multiple methods enabled multiple angles on the inevitable artificiality and performative dimension of the diary process, resulting in rich data on people’s complex reflections on the uncertain position of the contemporary citizen