bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lombardo Toledano’s Struggles in the World of Labor
Authors: Spenser Daniela
Published: December 2017

Vicente Lombardo Toledano was born into a prosperous family in 1894 in Teziutlán, Puebla, and died in Mexico City in 1968. His life is a window into the history of the 20th century: the rise and fall of the old regime; the Mexican Revolution and the transformations that the revolution made in society; the intellectual and social reconstruction of the country under new parameters that included the rise of the labor movement to political prominence as well as the intervention of the trade unions in the construction and consolidation of the state; the dispute over the course of the nation in the tumultuous 1930s; and the configuration of the political and ideological left in Mexico. Lombardo Toledano’s life and work illustrate Mexico’s connections with the world during the Second World War and the Cold War.

Lombardo Toledano belonged to the intellectual elite of men and women who considered themselves progressives, Marxists, and socialists; they believed in a bright future for humanity. He viewed himself as the conscious reflection of the unconscious movement of the masses. With unbridled energy and ideological fervor, he founded unions, parties, and newspapers. During the course of his life, he adhered to various beliefs, from Christianity to Marxism, raising dialectical materialism to the level of a theory of knowledge of absolute proportions in the same fashion that he previously did with idealism. In life, he aroused feelings of love and hate; he was the object of royal welcomes and the target of several attacks; national and international espionage agencies did not let him out of their sight. He was detained in and expelled from several countries and prevented from visiting others. Those who knew him still evoke his incendiary oratorical style, which others remember as soporific. His admirers praise him as the helmsman of Mexican and Latin American workers; others scorn the means he used to achieve his goals as opportunist.

Lombardo Toledano believed that the Soviet Union had achieved a future that Mexico could not aspire to imitate. Mexico was a semifeudal and semicolonial country, hindered by imperialism in its economic development and the creation of a national bourgeoisie, without which it could not pass on to the next stage in the evolution of mankind and without which the working class and peasantry were doomed to underdevelopment. In his interpretation of history, the autonomy of the subordinate classes did not enter into the picture; rather it was the intellectual elites allied with the state who had the task of instilling class consciousness in them. No matter how prominent a personality he was in his time, today few remember the maestro Vicente Lombardo Toledano, despite the many streets and schools named after him. However, the story of his life reveals the vivid and contradictory history of the 20th century, with traces that remain in contemporary Mexico.
wealth, Roman attitudes towards
Authors: Vivenza Gloria , Morley Neville
Published: December 2017

Roman attitudes to wealth were complex and sometimes ambivalent. Wealth was an essential basis for political and social life, but also a topic of extensive debate, which focused on the proper uses of wealth and the proper ways of attaining it. These moral, philosophical, and literary debates had practical implications for how the Romans spent their wealth and how they acquired it.
tribunicia potestas
Authors: Brennan T. Corey
Published: December 2017

Tribunicia potestas (tribunician power) refers to the rights granted to Rome’s tribuni plebis—including sacrosanctity, that is, personal inviolability while in office—and (later) to the claim by Roman emperors to the plebeian tribunes’ privileges, a status which they employed to reckon their own years of rule and also publicly designate a successor. In official titulature the emperors commonly list it second among their distinctions (with number of continuous years held, thus functioning akin to a regnal year), after the office of pontifex maximus and before the number of imperatorial acclamations and consulships (see imperator, consul).

Tribunes originally received their prerogatives to defend and support the plebs, which essentially formed a “state within a state” in the Roman polity. But already in the mid-4th century bce, tribunes were using their powers more generally in senatorial politics; by the early 3rd century bce, the tribunes also had made themselves indispensable to the smooth functioning of the Roman legislative process. Though the plebeian tribunate lasted well into the imperial period, its practical and political importance faded swiftly with the demise of the Republic. Already in 48 bce the patrician Caesar received an extraordinary grant of tribunicia potestas (later confirmed for life) without having to hold the office of the tribunate itself. In 36 bce his adopted son Octavian seized upon the precedent in his struggles as triumvir; in the constitutional settlement of 23 bce as Augustus he formalized his tenure of annually renewable tribunicia potestas, henceforth reckoning his years of rule by it. This assumption of tribunician power, alongside enhanced imperium, definitively established the legal basis of his principate, and that of subsequent emperors for at least the next three and half centuries. Augustus also secured grants of tribunicia potestas for his successive sons-in-law to mark them off for dynastic succession—first Agrippa, then Tiberius. Here too he set a productive example for future emperors.
saeculum
Authors: Bilynskyj Dunning Susan
Published: December 2017

In Roman conceptions of time, the saeculum became the longest fixed interval, calculated as a period of 100 or 110 years (as opposed to, e.g., a lustrum of only five years; cf. “census”). The term originally indicated a “generation” or “lifetime,” but greater significance developed through its association with the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games), which were performed to celebrate the advent of a new saeculum in Rome. Through the Secular Games, the emperor advertised his role in establishing his dynasty and ushering in an age of peace; emperors who wished to capitalize on this expression of authority made official references to the saeculum in coinage and inscriptions if they were unable to hold the Games during their reigns, thus creating a close link between the saeculum, imperial families, and political control. In Late Antiquity, the Christianization of the empire led to other usages. Because of its association with political power, the saeculum came to signify “the present age of the world,” in contrast with an eternal, heavenly realm; it could also be applied to a new, Christian era.
frugality (frugalitas) and parsimony (parsimonia)
Authors: Nelsestuen Grant
Published: December 2017

Arising from the agrarian and domestic contexts of classical antiquity, the notion of “frugality” (frugalitas) was a positive, desirable, and in many respects distinctively Roman concept that generally refers to a set of practices, ethical principles, and cultural and moral values pertaining to the production and consumption of resources. Closely related to this more general category is the concept of “parsimony” (parsimonia), which, as one type of frugalitas, is properly concerned with the prudent and judicious management of property and wealth. Both concepts tend to be associated with temperance and moderation (moderatio; cf. Gk. sophrosyne) and are often framed in opposition to “luxury” (luxuria) and “greed” (avaritia). Partly as a response to perceived increases in social ills and partly under the influence of Greek philosophy, the moral connotations of frugalitas and parsimonia become increasingly pronounced over time and are variously embraced by later Christian writers. Prominent historical exempla for these important Roman concepts include L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, M.’ Curius Dentatus, and Cato the Elder.
Personal Nouns (Agent Nouns) in the Romance Languages
Authors: Regis Riccardo
Published: December 2017

An agent noun is a derived noun whose general meaning is ‘person who does . . .’. It is thus characterized by the feature [+ Human], regardless of whether the person involved actually performs an action (e.g., French nageur ‘swimmer’, i.e., ‘a person who swims’), carries out a profession (e.g., Spanish cabrero ‘goatherd’, i.e., ‘a person who looks after goats’), adheres to a certain ideology or group (e.g., Italian femminista ‘feminist’, i.e., ‘a person who supports or follows the feminist movement’), and so on. Agent nouns are for the most part denominal (as with cabrero and femminista above) and deverbal (as with nageur above). Latin denominal agent nouns were mainly formed with -arius, though the Latin agentive suffix par excellence was -tor, which derived nouns from verbs. Latin denominal agents were also formed with -ista, a borrowing from Greek -ιστήϛ. The reflexes of all three suffixes are widespread and highly productive in the Romance languages, as in the case of Portuguese/Spanish/Catalan/Occitan pescador ‘fisherman’ (-dor < -torem), French boucher ‘butcher’ (-er < -arium), and Romanian flautist (-ist < -ista). At any rate, the distinction between denominal and deverbal agent nouns is not always straightforward, as demonstrated by the Romance forms connected with the Latin present particle -nte, for whereas the majority display a verbal base (e.g., Italian cantante ‘singer’ ← cantare ‘to sing’), there are some which do not (e.g., Italian bracciante ‘hired hand’ ← braccio ‘arm’), thus allowing them to be regarded as denominal derivations. A minor group of agent nouns is made up of deadjectival derivations, often conveying a pejorative meaning; such is the case with Italian elegantone ‘person of overblown elegance’ (← elegante ‘elegant’) and French richard ‘very rich person’ (← riche ‘rich’).
Morphology in Uralic Languages
Authors: Sőrés Anna , Hevér-Joly Krisztina
Published: December 2017

Uralic languages are synthetic, agglutinative languages, overwhelmingly suffixing, and they have a rich inflectional morphology in both the nominal and the verbal domain. The Uralic family includes about 30 languages spoken in Europe and in North Eurasia and is traditionally divided into two branches: Finno-Ugric and Samoyed languages. The separation of the branches and subgroups is very distant in time; thus, these general morphological features show a notable variation.

Agglutinating is a general feature but there are some syncretisms, fusions, and suppletions and all languages have postpositions beside suffixes and some of them have prepositions.

Nouns and pronouns are inflected for number (singular, plural, and in some languages for dual), person, and case but not for gender. All Uralic languages have a case system. However, the number and the nature of the cases show a great variety: from 3 to 18 cases including grammatical cases (nominative, accusative, and genitive) and other spatial and non-spatial cases. A characteristic feature of these languages is the tripartite location system. The system of personal possessive markers is particularly interesting: the person and the number of the possessor and the number of the item possessed can be marked by suffixes. Combining the expression of possession and case, the morphotactic rules differ between the languages. Comparative and superlative adjectives can be also formed by inflection.

Verbs are inflected for person/number, tense, and mood. Uralic languages generally do not have the canonical passive voice. A characteristic feature of Ugric languages is the double conjugation of transitive verbs depending on the definiteness of the direct object. As verbal aspect is not an inflectional category, certain languages use a rich system of preverbs or derivational suffixes to express aspect and Aktionsart.
Soil Resources, the Delivery of Ecosystem Services and Value
Authors: Robinson David A. , Seaton Fiona , Sharps Katrina , Thomas Amy , Parry Roberts Francis , van der Ploeg Martine , Jones Laurence , Stolte Jannes , Puig de la Bellacasa Maria , Harrison Paula , Emmett Bridget
Published: December 2017

Soils provide important functions, which according to the European Commission include: biomass production (e.g., agriculture and forestry); storing, filtering, and transforming nutrients, substances, and water; harboring biodiversity (habitats, species, and genes); forming the physical and cultural environment for humans and their activities; providing raw materials; acting as a carbon pool; and forming an archive of geological and archaeological heritage, all of which support human society and planetary life. The basis of these functions is the soil natural capital, the stocks of soil material. Soil functions feed into a range of ecosystem services which in turn contribute to the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). This overarching framework hides a range of complex, often nonlinear, biophysical interactions with feedbacks and perhaps yet to be discovered tipping points. Moreover, interwoven with this biophysical complexity are the interactions with human society and the socioeconomic system which often drives our attitudes toward, and the management and exploitation of, our environment.

Challenges abound, both social and environmental, in terms of how to feed an increasingly populous and material world, while maintaining some semblance of thriving ecosystems to pass on to future generations. How do we best steward the resources we have, keep them from degradation, and restore them where necessary as soils underpin life? How do we measure and quantify the soil resources we have, how are they changing in time and space, what can we predict about their future use and function? What is the value of soil resources, and how should we express it? This article explores how soil properties and processes underpin ecosystem services, how to measure and model them, and how to identify the wider benefits they provide to society. Furthermore, it considers value frameworks, including caring for our resources.
BS-virus-finder: virus integration calling using bisulfite sequencing data
Authors: Gao Shengjie , Hu Xuesong , Xu Fengping , Gao Changduo , Xiong Kai , Zhao Xiao , Chen Haixiao , Zhao Shancen , Wang Mengyao , Fu Dongke , Zhao Xiaohui , Bai Jie , Mao Likai , Li Bo , Wu Song , Wang Jian , Li Shengbin , Yang Huangming , Bolund Lars , Pedersen Christian N S
Published: December 2017

Background

DNA methylation plays a key role in the regulation of gene expression and carcinogenesis. Bisulfite sequencing studies mainly focus on calling single nucleotide polymorphism, different methylation region, and find allele-specific DNA methylation. Until now, only a few software tools have focused on virus integration using bisulfite sequencing data.

Findings

We have developed a new and easy-to-use software tool, named BS-virus-finder (BSVF, RRID:SCR_015727), to detect viral integration breakpoints in whole human genomes. The tool is hosted at https://github.com/BGI-SZ/BSVF.

Conclusions

BS-virus-finder demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity. It is useful in epigenetic studies and to reveal the relationship between viral integration and DNA methylation. BS-virus-finder is the first software tool to detect virus integration loci by using bisulfite sequencing data.
Draft genome of the milu (Elaphurus davidianus)
Authors: Zhang Chenzhou , Chen Lei , Zhou Yang , Wang Kun , Chemnick Leona G , Ryder Oliver A , Wang Wen , Zhang Guojie , Qiu Qiang
Published: December 2017

Background

Milu, also known as Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus), was widely distributed in East Asia but recently experienced a severe bottleneck. Only 18 survived by the end of the 19th century, and the current population of 4500 individuals was propagated from just 11 kept by the 11th British Duke of Bedford. This species is known for its distinguishable appearance, the driving force behind which is still a mystery. To aid efforts to explore these phenomena, we constructed a draft genome of the species.

Findings

In total, we generated 321.86 gigabases (Gb) of raw DNA sequence from whole-genome sequencing of a male milu deer using an Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Assembly yielded a final genome with a scaffold N50 size of 3.03 megabases (Mb) and a total length of 2.52 Gb. Moreover, we identified 20 125 protein-coding genes and 988.1 Mb of repetitive sequences. In addition, homology-based searches detected 280 rRNA, 1335 miRNA, 1441 snRNA, and 893 tRNA sequences in the milu genome. The divergence time between E. davidianus and Bos taurus was estimated to be about 28.20 million years ago (Mya). We identified 167 species-specific genes and 293 expanded gene families in the milu lineage.

Conclusions

We report the first reference genome of milu, which will provide a valuable resource for studying the species' demographic history of severe bottleneck and the genetic mechanism(s) of special phenotypic evolution.
Identification of high-mass X-ray binaries selected from XMM–Newton observations of the LMC
Authors: van Jaarsveld N , Buckley D A H , McBride V A , Haberl F , Vasilopoulos G , Maitra C , Udalski A , Miszalski B
Published: December 2017

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) currently hosts around 23 high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) of which most are Be/X-ray binaries. The LMC XMM–Newton survey provided follow-up observations of previously known X-ray sources that were likely HMXBs, as well as identifying new HMXB candidates. In total, 19 candidate HMXBs were selected based on their X-ray hardness ratios. In this paper we present red and blue optical spectroscopy, obtained with Southern African Large Telescope and the South African Astronomical Observatory 1.9-m telescope, plus a timing analysis of the long-term optical light curves from OGLE to confirm the nature of these candidates. We find that nine of the candidates are new Be/X-ray binaries, substantially increasing the LMC Be/X-ray binary population. Furthermore, we present the optical properties of these new systems, both individually and as a group of all the BeXBs identified by the XMM–Newton survey of the LMC.
Cosmic homogeneity: a spectroscopic and model-independent measurement
Authors: Gonçalves R S , Carvalho G C , Bengaly Jr C A P , Carvalho J C , Bernui A , Alcaniz J S , Maartens R
Published: December 2017

Cosmology relies on the Cosmological Principle, i.e. the hypothesis that the Universe is homogeneous and isotropic on large scales. This implies in particular that the counts of galaxies should approach a homogeneous scaling with volume at sufficiently large scales. Testing homogeneity is crucial to obtain a correct interpretation of the physical assumptions underlying the current cosmic acceleration and structure formation of the Universe. In this letter, we use the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey to make the first spectroscopic and model-independent measurements of the angular homogeneity scale θh. Applying four statistical estimators, we show that the angular distribution of galaxies in the range 0.46 < z < 0.62 is consistent with homogeneity at large scales, and that θh varies with redshift, indicating a smoother Universe in the past. These results are in agreement with the foundations of the standard cosmological paradigm.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Chrysoviridae
Authors: Ghabrial Said A. , Castón José R. , Coutts Robert H. A. , Hillman Bradley I. , Jiang Daohong , Kim Dae-Hyun , Moriyama Hiromitsu ,   ICTV Report Consortium
Published: December 2017

The Chrysoviridae is a family of small, isometric, non-enveloped viruses (40 nm in diameter) with segmented dsRNA genomes (typically four segments). The genome segments are individually encapsidated and together comprise 11.5–12.8 kbp. The single genus Chrysovirus includes nine species. Chrysoviruses lack an extracellular phase to their life cycle; they are transmitted via intracellular routes within an individual during hyphal growth, in asexual or sexual spores, or between individuals via hyphal anastomosis. There are no known natural vectors for chrysoviruses. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Chrysoviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/chrysoviridae.
Fast X-ray reflectivity measurements using an X-ray pixel area detector at the DiffAbs beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL
Authors: Mocuta Cristian , Stanescu Stefan , Gallard Manon , Barbier Antoine , Dawiec Arkadiusz , Kedjar Bouzid , Leclercq Nicolas , Thiaudiere Dominique
Published: December 2017

This paper describes a method for rapid measurements of the specular X-ray reflectivity signal using an area detector and a monochromatic, well collimated X-ray beam (divergence below 0.01°), combined with a continuous data acquisition mode during the angular movements of the sample and detector. In addition to the total integrated (and background-corrected) reflectivity signal, this approach yields a three-dimensional mapping of the reciprocal space in the vicinity of its origin. Grazing-incidence small-angle scattering signals are recorded simultaneously. Measurements up to high momentum transfer values (close to 0.1 nm−1, also depending on the X-ray beam energy) can be performed in total time ranges as short as 10 s. The measurement time can be reduced by up to 100 times as compared with the classical method using monochromatic X-ray beams, a point detector and rocking scans (integrated reflectivity signal).
Damage thresholds for blaze diffraction gratings and grazing incidence optics at an X-ray free-electron laser
Authors: Krzywinski Jacek , Conley Raymond , Moeller Stefan , Gwalt Grzegorz , Siewert Frank , Waberski Christoph , Zeschke Thomas , Cocco Daniele
Published: December 2017

The Linac Coherent Light Source is upgrading its machine to high repetition rate and to extended ranges. Novel coatings, with limited surface oxidation, which are able to work at the carbon edge, are required. In addition, high-resolution soft X-ray monochromators become necessary. One of the big challenges is to design the mirror geometry and the grating profile to have high reflectivity (or efficiency) and at the same time survive the high peak energy of the free-electron laser pulses. For these reasons the experimental damage threshold, at 900 eV, of two platinum-coated gratings with different blazed angles has been investigated. The gratings were tested at 1° grazing incidence. To validate a model for which the damage threshold on the blaze grating can be estimated by calculating the damage threshold of a mirror with an angle of incidence identical to the angle of incidence on the grating plus the blaze angle, tests on Pt-coated substrates have also been performed. The results confirmed the prediction. Uncoated silicon, platinum and SiB3 (both deposited on a silicon substrate) were also investigated. In general, the measured damage threshold at grazing incidence is higher than that calculated under the assumption that there is no energy transport from the volume where the photons are absorbed. However, it was found that, for the case of the SiB3 coating, the grazing incidence condition did not increase the damage threshold, indicating that the energy transport away from the extinction volume is negligible.
Social Innovation Excubator
Authors: Castro-Spila Javier
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework for developing social innovation competencies in social sciences within the agenda of the Relational University. It explores the educational strategy promoted by the Social Innovation Excubator (SIE), an experimental social sciences lab that provides students with a work-based learning scenario focusing on the solution of social problems.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper explores a new learning strategy to promote the Relational University. This exploration designs an experimental infrastructure named SIE. This infrastructure promotes the link between work-based learning and social innovation to develop four key competencies: heuristic, epistemic, relational and experimental skills.

Findings

There is little attention in the literature about work-based learning and social innovation. The conceptual framework provides a program on Social Innovation Capitalization (SIC) in the framework of the SIE. This framework provides a process of four phases to prototype social innovations: exploration, experimentation, exploitation and evaluation as a process to boost social innovation skills.

Research limitations/implications

The conceptual framework of Relational University is an innovative and integrative model (companies, social organizations, public sector and civil society) that develops a work-based learning strategy through SIE infrastructure. The SIE has a strong implication for social sciences developing an experimental space to explore, exploit and evaluate local social problems.

Practical implications

The SIE infrastructure and the SIC program promotes a new strategy in social sciences to boost employability (new competencies), entrepreneurship (pilot social organizations) and intra-entrepreneurship (social innovation in organizations).

Originality/value

This paper proposes a conceptual and empirical framework to develop the Relational University through a new learning strategy linking work-based learning and social innovation. This practical framework covers a lack in the work-based learning perspective opening a new line of research linked to social innovation.
Integrated sustainability reporting at HNE Eberswalde – a practice report
Authors: Kräusche Kerstin , Pilz Stefanie
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the development of an integrated sustainability reporting. In this paper success criteria are named and empirical values when dealingwith specific challenges are formulated. The focus is on the development of criteria for reporting, the involvement of university members and quality assurance.

Design/methodology/approach

The voluntary and compulsory reporting requirements of German universities are presented, and the concept for integrated reporting is developed from them. Possible criteria catalogues for the evaluation of sustainable development are presented and evaluated. However, the focus is on the practical experience that the university has made in the launch and implementation of an integrated sustainability reporting – both in terms of content and organisation.

Findings

A prerequisite for the preparation of a sustainability reporting is that the university develops a common understanding of sustainability and formulates objectives. This results in a structure for the reporting which is self-explanatory. For the project management before, during and after the reporting, it is indispensable to structure the work sequence (data collection, data analysis, text editor, etc) and to ensure a process-accompanying communication. Participation by all university groups in reporting is necessary.

Practical implications

Universities have a special responsibility for the sustainable development of society. To be accountable for their activities in the field of sustainability, the practical report provides a handbook on which universities can set up their own sustainability reporting.

Originality/value

At German universities, there is a lively discussion on how to define a criteria catalogue to report objectively on sustainability. The Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is involved in the discussion and, at the same time, sets a good example. This article describes the practical implementation of the Sustainability Report.
A spatial and organisational analysis of Asian panethnic association in Perth, Western Australia
Authors: Stevens Catriona
Published: December 2017

Purpose

“Asian” is an aggregating descriptive term commonly used in Australian media, politics and everyday speech to describe people of diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this paper is to question the extent to which “Asian” Australian residents living in Perth, Western Australia demonstrate spatial or organisational panethnic association.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses quantitative population data from the 2011 Census using GIS to visualise the spatial residential distribution of individuals born in Asian countries and individuals with Chinese ancestry within the Perth metropolitan area. The paper further uses qualitative data drawn from fieldwork conducted in Perth to consider evidence of organisational panethnic association.

Findings

For first generation migrants there is currently little spatial or organisation evidence of “Asian” panethnic association in Perth. Migrants from different ethno-national backgrounds exhibit very different residential patterns. Incipient ethnoburbs are developing that appear to be based on ethnicity rather than panethnicity. Migrant organisation in Perth is likewise arranged primarily on the basis of ethnicity although some panethnic work is observed.

Research limitations/implications

Findings indicate trends towards ethnic residential segregation. Further longitudinal research could expand upon these findings. Qualitative research could determine causes of segregation and implications of (pan)ethnic identities, and explore how individuals from Asian countries respond to the dominant linguistic aggregation of “Asians”.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original analysis of a common frame of reference that has received little critical attention in the Australian context. It applies the framework of Asian panethnicity developed in the USA and finds it wanting, highlighting an inconsistency between the racialised language used in Australia to describe migrants from Asia and the ways these migrants associate.
Young-adults NEET in Italy: orientations and strategies toward the future
Authors: Gaspani Fabio
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation with the future of young-adults Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) in Italy. The study of temporal experiences allows to understand how subjects represent their own condition and construct their biographies in an age of uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The study follows a qualitative approach to allow participants to express their own experiences and representations through narratives. The 12 cases considered are illustrative of the different orientations detected in the group of 36 young people involved in the research.

Findings

Young-adults NEET have problems in acquiring a recognized social status and in designing future orientations. The difficulties to project themselves in time hinder the attainment of a sense of biographical continuity as well as the process of identity construction, which tends to be increasingly detached from the planning sphere.

Originality/value

The study adds to the literature on the issue of young people NEET, contributing to differentiate the social conditions of this group by referring to their experiences, social belongings and resources. The analysis sheds new light on the agency of young people, that conceive biographical strategies in relation to the scenarios they envisage.
Multiple sexual violence prevention tools: doses and boosters
Authors: Banyard Victoria , Potter Sharyn J. , Cares Alison C. , Williams Linda M. , Moynihan Mary M. , Stapleton Jane G.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Sexual violence prevention programs on college campuses have proliferated in recent years. While research has also increased, a number of questions remain unanswered that could assist campus administrators in making evidence-based decisions about implementation of prevention efforts. To that end, the field of prevention science has highlighted the need to examine the utility of booster sessions for enhancing prevention education. The purpose of this paper is to examine how two methods of prevention delivery – small group educational workshops and a community-wide social marketing campaign (SMC) – worked separately and together to promote attitude change related to sexual violence among college students.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-part study was conducted at two universities. Participants were from successive cohorts of first year students and randomly assigned to participate in a bystander based in-person sexual violence prevention program or a control group. Participants were later exposed to a bystander based sexual violence prevention SMC either before or after a follow-up survey. Analyses investigated if attitudes varied by exposure group (program only, SMC only, both program and SMC, no prevention exposure).

Findings

Results revealed benefits of the SMC as a booster for attitude changes related to being an active bystander to prevent sexual violence. Further, students who first participated in the program showed enhanced attitude effects related to the SMC.

Originality/value

This is the first study to look at the combination of effects of different sexual violence prevention tools on student attitudes. It also showcases a method for how to investigate if prevention tools work separately and together.
Patients’ attitude toward diabetes mellitus screening in Thai dental clinics
Authors: Tantipoj Chanita , Hiransuthikul Narin , Supa-amornkul Sirirak , Lohsoonthorn Vitool , Piboonniyom Khovidhunkit Siribang-on
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important health problem throughout the world. Association between DM and oral diseases has been reported and dental clinic is indicated to be one of the suitable venues for the screening of DM. The purpose of this paper is to determine patients’ attitude toward DM screening in dental clinics.

Design/methodology/approach

The anonymous, self-administered questionnaires of five-point response scale questions were distributed to convenience samples of adult patients (⩾25 years) attending one of the dental settings. These dental settings were divided into the university/hospital-based dental clinics (encompassing two university-based and five hospital-based dental clinics) or the private dental clinics (encompassing two private, and one special (after office hour) clinic of a faculty of dentistry). The questions could be categorized into three groups regarding importance, willingness, and agreement of DM screening in dental settings. Results are presented as percentage by respondents based upon the number of responses for each question. The favorable outcomes which were defined as responses of either scale of 4 or 5 were also summarized according to dental settings. The χ2 test for comparison was used to compare the favorable outcomes between the two settings.

Findings

A total of 601 completed questionnaires were collected; 394 from university/hospital-based dental clinics and 207 from two private clinics and a special (after office hour) clinic of a faculty of dentistry. Overall, the majority of respondents in both university/hospital-based and private practice settings felt that it is important to have a dentist conduct a screening (84.8 vs 79.5 percent). The majority of patients in both groups were willing to receive blood pressure examination (95.0 vs 92.0 percent), weight and height measurements (94.7 vs 94.0 percent), saliva/oral fluid investigation (86.4 and 86.9 percent) and finger-stick blood test (83.8 vs 83.9 percent). More than 75 percent of all respondents agreed with diabetes screening in dental clinics.

Originality/value

The majority of respondents supported the screening of DM in dental settings and they were willing to have a screening test by the dentist. Patient acceptance is an important key to be successful in the screening of DM in dental settings.
Azathioprine monotherapy in autoimmune blistering diseases: A feasible option for mild to moderate cases
Authors: Kakuta Risa , Yamagami Jun , Funakoshi Takeru , Takahashi Hayato , Ohyama Manabu , Amagai Masayuki
Published: December 2017

Azathioprine (AZP) is used as a corticosteroid (CS)‐sparing medication to treat autoimmune blistering diseases. In this study, we examined the efficacy of AZP and the feasibility of using AZP monotherapy (without CS) to treat pemphigus and pemphigoid. We performed a retrospective study of 10 Japanese patients (seven with pemphigus and three with pemphigoid) with mild to moderate disease activity who had been treated using AZP. The treatment efficacy was evaluated based on decreases in the disease activity scores and autoantibody titers. The results demonstrate that seven out of 10 cases (70%) were treated successfully using AZP monotherapy with no severe adverse effects. The disease activity scores of the successfully‐treated patients decreased to zero after 1–37.5 months (average, 11.9) and the average disease activity scores in these cases decreased significantly at 2 months (38.2 ± 36.6%) compared with the scores of the three patients who required additional systemic CS therapy (77.5 ± 3.5%) (P < 0.05). Additionally, the autoantibody titers of five cases treated successfully using AZP decreased by half at 6 months. In conclusion, our findings suggest that AZP monotherapy is a viable treatment option for mild to moderate pemphigus and pemphigoid.
Effects of Macroeconomic Uncertainty and Labor Demand Shocks on the Housing Market
Authors: Strobel Johannes , Nguyen Thanh Binh , Lee Gabriel
Published: December 2017

This article shows that macroeconomic uncertainty affects the housing market in two significant ways. First, uncertainty shocks adversely affect housing prices but not the quantities that are traded. Controlling for a broad set of variables in fixed‐effects regressions, we find that uncertainty shocks reduce both housing prices and median sales prices in the amount of 1.4% and 1.8%, respectively, but the effect is not statistically significant for the percentage changes of all homes sold. Second, when both uncertainty and local demand shocks are introduced, the effects of uncertainty on the housing market dominate that of local labor demand shocks on housing prices, median sale prices, the share of houses selling for a loss and transactions. The aforementioned effects are largest for the states that exhibit relatively high housing price volatilities, suggesting real options effects in the housing market during the times of high uncertainty.
Serological, genetic and clinical associations with increased health‐care resource utilization in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Gu Phillip , Kapur Anshika , Li Dalin , Haritunians Talin , Vasiliauskas Eric , Shih David Q , Targan Stephan R , Spiegel Brennan MR , Mcgovern Dermot PB , Black Jeanne T , Melmed Gil Y
Published: December 2017

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with significant morbidity and economic burden. The variable course of IBD creates a need for predictors of clinical outcomes and health resource utilization (HRU) to guide treatment decisions. We aimed to identify clinical, serological or genetic markers associated with inpatient resource utilization in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

Patients with IBD with available genetic and serological data who had at least one emergency department visit or hospitalization in a 3‐year period were included. The primary outcome measure was HRU, as measured by the All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group classification system. Univariate and multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to identify the associations with HRU.

RESULTS

Altogether 858 (562 CD and 296 UC) patients were included. Anti‐CBir1 seropositivity (P = 0.002, effect size [ES]: 0.762, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.512–1.012) and low socioeconomic status (P = 0.005, ES: 1.620 [95% CI 1.091–2.149]) were independently associated with a high HRU. CD diagnosis (P = 0.006, ES: –0.701 [95% CI –0.959 to –0.443]) was independently associated with a low inpatient HRU.

CONCLUSION

In patients with IBD who required at least one emergency department visit or hospitalization, anti‐CBir1 antibody status may be a useful biomarker of HRU when formulating management strategies to reduce disease complications and resource utilization.
How financial investment distorts food prices: evidence from U.S. grain markets
Authors: van Huellen Sophie
Published: December 2017

Convergence between commodity futures prices and the underlying physical assets at each contract's expiration date is a pivotal condition for the market's functioning. Between 2005 and 2010, convergence failed for several U.S. grain markets. This article presents a price pressure‐augmented commodity storage model that links the scale of nonconvergence to financial investment channeled through indices, which are traded in commodity futures markets. The model is empirically tested, using Markov regime‐switching regression analysis. Regression results strongly support the model's predicted link between index investment and the extent of nonconvergence for three grains traded at the Chicago Board of Trade: wheat, corn, and soybeans.
Increasing agricultural productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in sub‐Saharan Africa: myth or reality?
Authors: Majiwa Eucabeth , Lee Boon L. , Wilson Clevo
Published: December 2017

The motivation for this study stems from two major concerns that are interlinked. The first is the decades long food insecurity crisis faced by sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries which is still prevalent. The second is the negative impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture may have on future food production and which is likely to worsen the food insecurity problem. The conundrum SSA farmers face is how to increase food output through productivity growth while minimizing GHG emissions. To measure changes in productivity growth and GHG emissions, this study evaluates the agricultural performance of 18 SSA countries by utilizing the Malmquist–Luenberger index to incorporate good and bad outputs for the years 1980–2012. The empirical evidence demonstrates that productivity is overestimated when bad outputs are not considered in the production model. The analysis provides a better understanding of the effectiveness of previous mitigation methods and which informs an appropriate course of action needed to achieve the twin objectives of increasing agriculture productivity while reducing GHG emissions.
Early visual outcomes and optical quality after femtosecond laser small‐incision lenticule extraction for myopia and myopic astigmatism correction of over −10 dioptres
Authors: Qin Bing , Li Meiyan , Chen Xun , Sekundo Walter , Zhou Xingtao
Published: December 2017

Purpose

To investigate early visual and refractive outcomes, corneal stability and optical quality after femtosecond laser small‐incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for treating myopia and myopic astigmatism over −10 D.

Methods

Thirty eyes (30 patients) with myopia and myopic astigmatism of over −10 D were treated with VisuMax® femtosecond laser (version 3.0; Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany). Six months postoperative safety, efficacy and predictability were evaluated. Corneal Scheimpflug topography was measured preoperatively, 1 day, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Wavefront aberrations were measured preoperatively, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively.

Results

Six months postoperatively, LogMAR uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were −0.013 ± 0.086 and −0.073 ± 0.069, respectively. 73% (97%) of eyes were within 0.5 (1) D of target refraction. No eyes lost CDVA, 43% (13 eyes) gained one line and 7% (two eyes) gained two lines. Mean corneal back curvature (KMB) and posterior central elevation (PCE) did not change significantly comparing preoperative and 6 months postoperative data (p = 0.91 and 0.77, respectively). Comparing 1 day with 6 months postoperative data, central corneal thickness (CCT), mean corneal front curvature (KMF), KMB and PCE did not change significantly (p = 0.27, 0.07, 0.52, 0.71, respectively). Total higher‐order aberration (HOA), spherical aberration and coma increased significantly (p < 0.01) but trefoil remained stable (p = 0.49).

Conclusion

Our results indicate that SMILE can correct myopia and myopic astigmatism of over −10 D predictably. No early ectasia was observed. Long‐term changes in visual quality and corneal stability require further investigation.
Tendinous tissue properties after short‐ and long‐term functional overload: Differences between controls, 12 weeks and 4 years of resistance training
Authors: Massey G. J. , Balshaw T. G. , Maden‐Wilkinson T. M. , Folland J. P.
Published: December 2017

Aim

The potential for tendinous tissues to adapt to functional overload, especially after several years of exposure to heavy‐resistance training, is largely unexplored. This study compared the morphological and mechanical characteristics of the patellar tendon and knee extensor tendon‐aponeurosis complex between young men exposed to long‐term (4 years; n = 16), short‐term (12 weeks; n = 15) and no (untrained controls; n = 39) functional overload in the form of heavy‐resistance training.

Methods

Patellar tendon cross‐sectional area, vastus lateralis aponeurosis area and quadriceps femoris volume, plus patellar tendon stiffness and Young's modulus, and tendon‐aponeurosis complex stiffness, were quantified with MRI, dynamometry and ultrasonography.

Results

As expected, long‐term trained had greater muscle strength and volume (+58% and +56% vs untrained, both P < .001), as well as a greater aponeurosis area (+17% vs untrained, P < .01), but tendon cross‐sectional area (mean and regional) was not different between groups. Only long‐term trained had reduced patellar tendon elongation/strain over the whole force/stress range, whilst both short‐term and long‐term overload groups had similarly greater stiffness/Young's modulus at high force/stress (short‐term +25/22%, and long‐term +17/23% vs untrained; all P < .05). Tendon‐aponeurosis complex stiffness was not different between groups (ANOVA, P = .149).

Conclusion

Despite large differences in muscle strength and size, years of resistance training did not induce tendon hypertrophy. Both short‐term and long‐term overload demonstrated similar increases in high‐force mechanical and material stiffness, but reduced elongation/strain over the whole force/stress range occurred only after years of overload, indicating a force/strain specific time‐course to these adaptations.
Detecting Treatment Differences in Group Sequential Longitudinal Studies with Covariate Adjustment
Authors: Jeffries Neal O. , Troendle James F. , Geller Nancy L.
Published: December 2017

In longitudinal studies comparing two treatments over a series of common follow-up measurements, there may be interest in determining if there is a treatment difference at any follow-up period when there may be a non-monotone treatment effect over time. To evaluate this question, Jeffries and Geller (2015) examined a number of clinical trial designs that allowed adaptive choice of the follow-up time exhibiting the greatest evidence of treatment difference in a group sequential testing setting with Gaussian data. The methods are applicable when a few measurements were taken at prespecified follow-up periods. Here, we test the intersection null hypothesis of no difference at any follow-up time versus the alternative that there is a difference for at least one follow-up time. Results of Jeffries and Geller (2015) are extended by considering a broader range of modeled data and the inclusion of covariates using generalized estimating equations. Testing procedures are developed to determine a set of follow-up times that exhibit a treatment difference that accounts for multiplicity in follow-up times and interim analyses.