The New ‘Hidden Abode’: Reflections on Value and Labour in the New Economy

In a pivotal section of Capital, volume 1, Marx (1976: 279) notes that, in order to understand the capitalist production of value, we must descend into the ‘hidden abode of production’: the site of the labour process conducted within an employment relationship. In this paper we argue that by remaining wedded to an analysis of labour that is confined to the employment relationship, Labour Process Theory (LPT) has missed a fundamental shift in the location of value production in contemporary capitalism. We examine this shift through the work of Autonomist Marxists like Hardt and Negri, Lazaratto and Arvidsson, who offer theoretical leverage to prize open a new ‘hidden abode’ outside employment, for example in the ‘production of organization’ and in consumption. Although they can open up this new ‘hidden abode’, without LPT's fine-grained analysis of control/resistance, indeterminacy and structured antagonism, these theorists risk succumbing to empirically naive claims about the ‘new economy’. Through developing an expanded conception of a ‘new hidden abode’ of production, the paper demarcates an analytical space in which both LPT and Autonomist Marxism can expand and develop their understanding of labour and value production in today's economy. </jats:p

Overeating, caloric restriction and breast cancer risk by pathologic subtype: the EPIGEICAM study

This study analyzes the association of excessive energy intake and caloric restriction with breast cancer (BC) risk taking into account the individual energy needs of Spanish women. We conducted a multicenter matched case-control study where 973 pairs completed lifestyle and food frequency questionnaires. Expected caloric intake was predicted from a linear regression model in controls, including calories consumed as dependent variable, basal metabolic rate as an offset and physical activity as explanatory. Overeating and caloric restriction were defined taking into account the 99% confidence interval of the predicted value. The association with BC risk, overall and by pathologic subtype, was evaluated using conditional and multinomial logistic regression models. While premenopausal women that consumed few calories (>20% below predicted) had lower BC risk (OR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.21–0.63), postmenopausal women with an excessive intake (≥40% above predicted) showed an increased risk (OR = 2.81; 95% CI = 1.65–4.79). For every 20% increase in relative (observed/predicted) caloric intake the risk of hormone receptor positive (p-trend < 0.001) and HER2+ (p-trend = 0.015) tumours increased 13%, being this figure 7% for triple negative tumours. While high energy intake increases BC risk, caloric restriction could be protective. Moderate caloric restriction, in combination with regular physical activity, could be a good strategy for BC prevention

Super diversity and city branding: Rotterdam in perspective

As many other cities around the world, Rotterdam has been investing in improving its image to stimulate urban development and to attract visitors, residents and investors. In particular, during the last 15 years the municipality of Rotterdam has intensified its attempts to develop a ‘brand’ that fits the ‘new Rotterdam’, which was gradually rebuilt after destructive bombardments during the Second World War (Riezebos 2014). In 2014 Rotterdam was ranked 8th by ‘Rough Guide’ in the list of ‘Top 10 Cities to See’, whereas the ‘New York Times’ listed Rotterdam in the top 10 of 52 Places to Go. These rankings demonstrate Rotterdam’s success in repositioning itself, using the physical interior of the city as a key element in its branding strategy.</p

Evaluation of the current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: a gap analysis

BACKGROUND A gap analysis was conducted to determine which areas of breast cancer research, if targeted by researchers and funding bodies, could produce the greatest impact on patients. METHODS Fifty-six Breast Cancer Campaign grant holders and prominent UK breast cancer researchers participated in a gap analysis of current breast cancer research. Before, during and following the meeting, groups in seven key research areas participated in cycles of presentation, literature review and discussion. Summary papers were prepared by each group and collated into this position paper highlighting the research gaps, with recommendations for action. RESULTS Gaps were identified in all seven themes. General barriers to progress were lack of financial and practical resources, and poor collaboration between disciplines. Critical gaps in each theme included: (1) genetics (knowledge of genetic changes, their effects and interactions); (2) initiation of breast cancer (how developmental signalling pathways cause ductal elongation and branching at the cellular level and influence stem cell dynamics, and how their disruption initiates tumour formation); (3) progression of breast cancer (deciphering the intracellular and extracellular regulators of early progression, tumour growth, angiogenesis and metastasis); (4) therapies and targets (understanding who develops advanced disease); (5) disease markers (incorporating intelligent trial design into all studies to ensure new treatments are tested in patient groups stratified using biomarkers); (6) prevention (strategies to prevent oestrogen-receptor negative tumours and the long-term effects of chemoprevention for oestrogen-receptor positive tumours); (7) psychosocial aspects of cancer (the use of appropriate psychosocial interventions, and the personal impact of all stages of the disease among patients from a range of ethnic and demographic backgrounds). CONCLUSION Through recommendations to address these gaps with future research, the long-term benefits to patients will include: better estimation of risk in families with breast cancer and strategies to reduce risk; better prediction of drug response and patient prognosis; improved tailoring of treatments to patient subgroups and development of new therapeutic approaches; earlier initiation of treatment; more effective use of resources for screening populations; and an enhanced experience for people with or at risk of breast cancer and their families. The challenge to funding bodies and researchers in all disciplines is to focus on these gaps and to drive advances in knowledge into improvements in patient care

Utility of Self-Rated Adherence for Monitoring Dietary and Physical Activity Compliance and Assessment of Participant Feedback of the Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Study pilot.

We examined the utility of self-rated adherence to dietary and physical activity (PA) prescriptions as a method to monitor intervention compliance and facilitate goal setting during the Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Study (HDLS). In addition, we assessed participants’ feedback of HDLS. HDLS is a randomized pilot intervention that compared the effect of intermittent energy restriction combined with a Mediterranean diet (IER + MED) to a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, with matching PA regimens, for reducing visceral adipose tissue area (VAT)

A nurse-led implantable loop recorder service is safe and cost effective

Introduction: Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are predominantly implanted by cardiologists in the catheter laboratory. We developed a nurse‐delivered service for the implantation of LINQ (Medtronic; Minnesota) ILRs in the outpatient setting. This study compared the safety and cost‐effectiveness of the introduction of this nurse‐delivered ILR service with contemporaneous physician‐led procedures. / Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing an ILR at our institution between 1st July 2016 and 4th June 2018 were included. Data were prospectively entered into a computerized database, which was retrospectively analyzed. / Results: A total of 475 patients underwent ILR implantation, 271 (57%) of these were implanted by physicians in the catheter laboratory and 204 (43%) by nurses in the outpatient setting. Six complications occurred in physician‐implants and two in nurse‐implants (P = .3). Procedural time for physician‐implants (13.4 ± 8.0 minutes) and nurse‐implants (14.2 ± 10.1 minutes) were comparable (P = .98). The procedural cost was estimated as £576.02 for physician‐implants against £279.95 with nurse‐implants, equating to a 57.3% cost reduction. In our center, the total cost of ILR implantation in the catheter laboratory by physicians was £10 513.13 p.a. vs £6661.55 p.a. with a nurse‐delivered model. When overheads for running, cleaning, and maintaining were accounted for, we estimated a saving of £68 685.75 was performed by moving to a nurse‐delivered model for ILR implants. Over 133 catheter laboratory and implanting physician hours were saved and utilized for other more complex procedures. / Conclusion: ILR implantation in the outpatient setting by suitably trained nurses is safe and leads to significant financial savings

Adherence to a Diet and Exercise Weight Loss Intervention amongst Women at Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Genesis Prevention Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK.Maintained weight loss of five percent or more may reduce risk of breast cancer. We conducted a feasibility pilot study to assess adherence to an intensive 12 month diet and exercise weight control intervention aimed to achieve and maintain a five percent or greater weight loss as compared to a usual care group receiving written advice only. Overweight premenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer were enrolled in a 12 month diet and exercise weight loss programme (n = 40) or a comparison group receiving usual care (n = 39). Changes in weight, general (DXA, bioelectrical impedance) and central adiposity (intra abdominal fat; MRI, waist), dietary intake, physical activity, cancer worry (Lerman score) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed at 6 and 12 months, as well as long-term changes in weight and adiposity 12 and 42 months after the end of the intervention. Target weight loss (5%) was achieved by 55% of the intervention group at the end of the 12 month intervention but maintained by fewer at 24 (39%) and 54 months -(21%). Overall the intervention group achieved significant reductions in weight (mean [95% CI] -4.6 [-6.4 to -2.8] %), body fat (-4.0 [-5.2 to -2.7] ) kg, intra abdominal fat (-25.0 [-39.0 to -8.0])% and waist circumference (-4.0 [-6.8 to -2.0] cm) during the 12 month intervention and reported large reductions in intake of energy (-24.3 [-33.2 to -15.1] %), fat (-32 [-44 to -20] %), and alcohol (-35 [-52 to -13] %), and increased moderate activity (27 [7 to 44] minutes/day). These parameters did not change in the usual care group (all P &lt; 0.05). A small proportion of the usual care group lost and maintained &gt; 5% of their weight at 6 (16%), 12 (11%), 24 (11%) and 54 (13%) months (P &lt; 0.05 at all time points). The intervention increased physical well being (SF-36; P &lt; 0.05) but had no measurable effect on mental well being or cancer worry. Weight loss is achievable within our high risk women but not more so than in previous studies in the general population. Further studies are required to better understand factors which can promote compliance in women at increased risk of breast cancer.sch_phy2pub1612pu