1,736 research outputs found
Is youth unemployment really the major worry? (AOM)
Youth unemployment is neither the only nor the basic problem of the European labour market. The comparative analysis of unemployment data demonstrates that the unemployment of older people is even more serious. The article proves that the weight of young people in total unemployment has as a tendency been declining in the âinner peripheryâ of the EU, among them in Central and Eastern European member states (CEECs). The trend is just the opposite in the developed or âcoreâ countries of the Union where youngsters took a higher share in total unemployment in 2012 than 10-12 years ago. In Europe there are millions of young people beyond the active unemployed who do not want to work or think they cannot find a job that fulfils their expectations and refuse to take part in any kind of education or training (NEETs-âNot in Employment, Education or Trainingâ). By estimating the rate of NEETs in the adult population the article claims that the NEETs-phenomenon is not the differentia specifica of the youth. At the end the article details two suggestions for the mitigation of the problem. It concludes that the joblessness in Europe is an old and tendencially worsening problem that cannot be solved by particular policies
Higher sociability leads to lower reproductive success in female kangaroos: Sociability and fitness in kangaroos
In social mammals, social integration is generally assumed
to improve femalesâ reproductive success. Most species
demonstrating this relationship exhibit complex forms of social
bonds and interactions. However, female eastern grey kangaroos
(Macropus giganteus) exhibit differentiated social relationships,
yet do not appear to cooperate directly. It is unclear what the
fitness consequences of such sociability could be in species that
do not exhibit obvious forms of cooperation. Using 4 years of
life history, spatial and social data from a wild population of
approximately 200 individually recognizable female eastern
grey kangaroos, we tested whether higher levels of sociability
are associated with greater reproductive success. Contrary to
expectations, we found that the size of a femaleâs social
network, her numbers of preferential associations with other
females and her group sizes all negatively influenced her
reproductive success. These factors influenced the survival of
dependent young that had left the pouch rather than those that
were still in the pouch. We also show that primiparous females
(first-time breeders) were less likely to have surviving young.
Our findings suggest that social bonds are not always beneficial
for reproductive success in group-living species, and that female
kangaroos may experience trade-offs between successfully
rearing young and maintaining affiliative relationships
Higher sociability leads to lower reproductive success in female kangaroos
In social mammals, social integration is generally assumed to improve females' reproductive success. Most species demonstrating this relationship exhibit complex forms of social bonds and interactions. However, female eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) exhibit differentiated social relationships, yet do not appear to cooperate directly. It is unclear what the fitness consequences of such sociability could be in species that do not exhibit obvious forms of cooperation. Using 4 years of life history, spatial and social data from a wild population of approximately 200 individually recognizable female eastern grey kangaroos, we tested whether higher levels of sociability are associated with greater reproductive success. Contrary to expectations, we found that the size of a female's social network, her numbers of preferential associations with other females and her group sizes all negatively influenced her reproductive success. These factors influenced the survival of dependent young that had left the pouch rather than those that were still in the pouch. We also show that primiparous females (first-time breeders) were less likely to have surviving young. Our findings suggest that social bonds are not always beneficial for reproductive success in group-living species, and that female kangaroos may experience trade-offs between successfully rearing young and maintaining affiliative relationships
Association between congenital toxoplasmosis and preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age birth.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between congenital toxoplasmosis and preterm birth, low birthweight and small for gestational age birth. DESIGN: Multicentre prospective cohort study. SETTING: Ten European centres offering prenatal screening for toxoplasmosis. POPULATION: Deliveries after 23 weeks of gestation in 386 women with singleton pregnancies who seroconverted to toxoplasma infection before 20 weeks of gestation. Deliveries after 36 weeks in 234 women who seroconverted at 20 weeks or later, and tested positive before 37 weeks. METHODS: Comparison of infected and uninfected births, adjusted for parity and country of birth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in gestational age at birth, birthweight and birthweight centile. RESULTS: Infected babies were born or delivered earlier than uninfected babies: the mean difference for seroconverters before 20 weeks was -5.4 days (95% CI: -1.4, -9.4), and at 20 weeks or more, -2.6 days (95% CI: -0.5, -4.7). Congenital infection was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery when seroconversion occurred before 20 weeks (OR 4.71; 95% CI: 2.03, 10.9). No significant differences were detected for birthweight or birthweight centile. CONCLUSION: Babies with congenital toxoplasmosis were born earlier than uninfected babies but the mechanism leading to shorter length of gestation is unknown. Congenital infection could precipitate early delivery or prompt caesarean section or induction of delivery. We found no evidence for a significant association between congenital toxoplasmosis and reduced birthweight or small for gestational age birth
The Effects of Acute Îâč-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Striatal Glutamatergic Function: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
Background:
Cannabis and its main psychoactive component, Î9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), can elicit transient psychotic symptoms. A key candidate biological mechanism of how THC induces psychotic symptoms is the modulation of glutamate in the brain. We sought to investigate the effects of acute THC administration on striatal glutamate levels and its relationship to the induction of psychotic symptoms.
Methods:
We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure glutamate levels in the striatum in 20 healthy participants after THC (15 mg, oral) and matched placebo administration in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Psychotic symptoms were measured using the Psychotomimetic States Inventory.
Results:
We found that THC administration did not significantly change glutamate (glutamate plus glutamine relative to creatine) concentration in the striatum (p = .58; scaled Jeffreys-Zellner-Siow Bayes factor = 4.29). THC increased psychotic symptoms, but the severity of these symptoms was not correlated with striatal glutamate levels.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that oral administration of 15 mg of THC does not result in altered striatal glutamate levels. Further work is needed to clarify the effects of THC on striatal glutamate
Deciphering Network Community Structure by Surprise
The analysis of complex networks permeates all sciences, from biology to
sociology. A fundamental, unsolved problem is how to characterize the community
structure of a network. Here, using both standard and novel benchmarks, we show
that maximization of a simple global parameter, which we call Surprise (S),
leads to a very efficient characterization of the community structure of
complex synthetic networks. Particularly, S qualitatively outperforms the most
commonly used criterion to define communities, Newman and Girvan's modularity
(Q). Applying S maximization to real networks often provides natural,
well-supported partitions, but also sometimes counterintuitive solutions that
expose the limitations of our previous knowledge. These results indicate that
it is possible to define an effective global criterion for community structure
and open new routes for the understanding of complex networks.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
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How do pharmacists in English general practices identify their impact? An exploratory qualitative study of measurement problems
Background: In England, there is an ongoing national pilot to expand pharmacistsâ presence in general practice. Evaluation of the pilot includes numerical and survey-based Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and requires pharmacists to electronically record their activities, possibly by using activity codes. At the time of the study (2016), no national evaluation of pharmacistsâ impact in this environment had been formally announced. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify problems that English pharmacists face when
measuring and recording their impact in general practice.
Methods: All pharmacists, general practitioners (GPs) and practice managers working
across two West London pilot sites were invited, via e-mail, to participate in a focus group study. Appropriately trained facilitators conducted two audio-recorded, semi-structured
focus groups, each lasting approximately one hour, to explore experiences and
perceptions associated with the KPIs. Audio-recordings were transcribed verbatim and
the data analysed thematically. Results: In total, 13 pharmacists, one GP and one practice manager took part in the study. Four major themes were discerned: inappropriateness of the numerical national KPIs (âwhether or not we actually have positive impact on KPIs is beyond our controlâ); depth and breadth of pharmacistsâ activity (âwe see a huge plethora of different patients and go through this holistic approach - everything is looked atâ); awareness of practice based pharmacistsâ roles (âI think the really important [thing] is that everyone knows what pharmacists in general practice are doingâ); and central evaluation versus local initiatives (âthe KPIs will be measured by National Health Service England regardless of what we thinkâ versus âwhat I think is more pertinent, are there some local things weâre going to measure?â). Conclusions: Measures that will effectively capture pharmacistsâ impact in general practice should be developed, along with a set of codes reflecting the whole spectrum of pharmacistsâ activities. Our study also points out the significance of a transparent, robust national evaluation, including exploring the needs/expectations of practice staff and patients regarding pharmacistsâ presence in general practice
Future scenarios to inspire innovation
In recent years and accelerated by the economic and financial crisis, complex global issues have moved to the forefront of policy making. These grand challenges require policy makers to address a variety of interrelated issues, which are built upon yet uncoordinated and dispersed bodies of knowledge. Due to the social dynamics of innovation, new socio-technical subsystems are emerging, however there is lack of exploitation of innovative solutions. In this paper we argue that issues of how knowledge is represented can have a part in this lack of exploitation. For example, when drivers of change are not only multiple but also mutable, it is not sensible to extrapolate the future from data and relationships of the past. This paper investigates ways in which futures thinking can be used as a tool for inspiring actions and structures that address the grand challenges. By analysing several scenario cases, elements of good practice and principles on how to strengthen innovation systems through future scenarios are identified. This is needed because innovation itself needs to be oriented along more sustainable pathways enabling transformations of socio-technical systems
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