Addressing and Overcoming Barriers to Youth Civic Engagement

Youth civic engagement—and particularly youth participation in properly designed youth programs—has indisputably favorable outcomes for the young people involved (Saito, 2006; Pancer et al., 2002; Flanagan et al., 2002). This research reviews the wide-ranging literature available on youth civic engagement in urban communities. Using content analysis, we identify organizations involved in youth engagement as well as barriers faced by organizations engaged in this policy arena. Our research also identifies 15 broad types of barriers that organizations seeking to encourage youth civic engagement encounter in building and delivering successful youth engagement programs. In addition, we discuss the emergent social and political barriers that are prevalent among the identified service organizations. Ultimately, we argue that such barriers are important influences in determining the ability of organizations to effectively serve their clients

La Égloga Nice de Juan de la Vega

L’article présente la Égloga Nice, inédite, de Juan de la Vega, auteur méconnu des Versos de Juan de la Vega (Naples, Mattia Cancer, 1552), tout aussi méconnus. Le texte présente des points d’intérêt, tant du point de vue de la forme – sa structure polymétrique – que du contenu : il s’agit d’un éloge politique, dans les années 1547-1552, cruciales pour l’équilibre délicat de la vice-royauté. L’article propose une série d’hypothèses relatives à la représentation diversifiée de la majesté de don Pedro de Tolède et de son entourage, de l’aube au crépuscule de son gouvernement.This article analyses the unpublished ‘Égloga Nice’, by Juan de la Vega, the still obscure poet of the still unknown and unpublished ‘Versos de Juan de la Vega’ (Napoli, Mattia Cancer, 1552). The Égloga presents several interesting aspects with regard to its structure –for instance the text multiple uses of poetic metre– as well as its content, especially for the political and encomiastic value –in crucial years for the Vice Kingdom–. The Égloga thus enables us to put forward a series of hypothesis concerning the different representations of the “Majesty” of don Pedro de Toledo and of his entourage from the dawn to the twilight of his government.El artículo presenta la inédita Égloga Nice de Juan de la Vega, autor desconocido de los también desconocidos Versos de Juan de la Vega (Nápoles, Mattia Cancer, 1552). El texto ofrece numerosos motivos de interés, tanto desde el punto de vista formal –la articulada estructura polimétrica–, cuanto desde el de los contenidos : su valor encomiástico y político en los años 1547 a 1552, cruciales para el delicado equilibrio del reino. Propone una serie de hipótesis relativas a la diversa representación de la majestad de don Pedro de Toledo y de su entorno entre el amanecer y el ocaso de su gobierno

Data of cost-optimality and technical solutions for high energy performance buildings in warm climate

AbstractThe data reported in this article refers to input and output information related to the research articles entitled Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area by Zacà et al. (Assessment of cost-optimality and technical solutions in high performance multi-residential buildings in the Mediterranean area, in press.) and related to the research article Cost-optimal analysis and technical comparison between standard and high efficient mono residential buildings in a warm climate by Baglivo et al. (Energy, 2015, 10.1016/j.energy.2015.02.062, in press)

Dynamic changes of mmp-9 plasma levels correlate with jvc reactivation and immune activation in natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis patients

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 plasma levels during natalizumab treatment and their correlation with JC virus (JCV) reactivation and T-lymphocyte phenotypic modifications in peripheral blood samples from 34 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. MMP-9 levels were assessed by zymography in plasma samples. JCV-DNA was detected through quantitative real time PCR in plasma samples. T-lymphocyte phenotype was assessed with flow cytometry. MMP-9 plasma levels resulted increased from 12 to 24 natalizumab infusions. Stratifying plasma samples according to JCV-DNA detection, MMP-9 plasma levels were significantly increased in JCV-DNA positive than JCV-DNA negative samples. MMP-9 plasma levels resulted positively correlated with JCV viral load. CD4 immune senescence, CD8 immune activation and CD8 effector percentages were positively correlated to MMP-9 plasma levels, whereas a negative correlation between CD8 naïve percentages and MMP-9 plasma levels was found. Our data indicate an increase of MMP-9 plasma levels between 12 and 24 natalizumab infusions and a correlation with JCV-DNA detection in plasma, T-lymphocyte immune activation and senescence. These findings could contribute to understand PML pathogenesis under natalizumab treatment, suggesting a potential role of MMP-9 as a predictive marker of PML in RRMS patients

The Terra Sigilata Africana in Recent Studies Scenario: Production, Circulation and Port Structures

A Terra Sigillata Africana (ARSW), produzida desde o final do século I d.C., atingiu grande importância a partir dos séculos III-IV d.C. Na versão de vasilhas de mesa e lamparinas de alta qualidade, foi distribuída tanto regionalmente quanto através de bem estabelecidas rotas comerciais na bacia do Mediterrâneo. Estudos recentes sobre sua produção, datação e distribuição apresentam inúmeras discussões e revisões dos principais conjuntos cerâmicos mediterrânicos para resolver problemas de tipologia e cronologia além da atribuição da localização dos centros de produção. Essa linha de investigação leva à interpretação do papel da cerâmica sigillata associada à produção e consumo de produtos de alimentação africanos, como o trigo, o óleo de oliva, o vinho e as salmouras de peixe (salsamenta, garum). Assim, é amplo o cenário das pesquisas que chamam atenção para os limites dos modelos clássicos de estudo da cerâmica africana e realizam revisões acuradas de datação, origem e conteúdo das vasilhas, especialmente com métodos arqueométricos. Neste sentido, novas questões e dificuldades são enfrentadas para explicar os modos de produção e de comercialização da sigillata e das ânforas africanas no Mediterrâneo, tendo como elemento importante o mercado interno africano, com produtos de alimentação de exclusiva circulação regional associados a vasilhas e ânforas com tipologias locais. Tais questões se entrelaçam com e convergem para o problema da estrutura portuária necessária para o escoamento da produção africana. Estudos introdutórios avaliam fluxos dos navios e propõem seus percursos na bacia mediterrânica, entretanto, as pesquisas relevantes nesse contexto revelam a importância do papel dos portos artificiais. Ainda que suas evidências até muito recentemente tenham sido negligenciadas, demonstrou-se que os portos artificiais foram não só a maioria esmagadora como também determinantes no contexto em que se desenvolveram relações entre conectividade e atividades econômicas no Período Romano Tardio. O objetivo deste artigo é oferecer um panorama desta discussão.The African Terra Sigillata (ARSW), produced since the end  of the Ist century  A.D., reached  great  importance  from  the  IIIth-IVth centuries  A.D.  In  the  version  of  high  quality tableware  and  lamps,  it  was  distributed  both  regionally  and  through  well-established  trade routes  in  the  Mediterranean  basin.Recent  studies  on production,  dating  and  distribution  go through numerous discussions and reviews of the main Mediterranean ceramic assemblies, with a  view  to  solving  typology  and  chronology  problems  in  addition  to  the  location  of  production centers.  This  line  of  research  leads  to  the  interpretation  of  the  role  of sigillata ceramics associated with the production and consumption of African food products, such as wheat, olive oil,  wine  and  fish  brine (salsamenta, garum).  As  a  result,  there  is  a wide  range  of  researches calling attention to the limits of classical models of African ceramics by offering accurate reviews of dating, origin and content of vessels, especially with archaeometric methods. New issues and difficulties are faced  in  order  to  explain  the  methods  of  production  and  commercialization  of sigillata and  African  amphorae  in  the  Mediterranean,  having  as  an  important  element  the African  domestic  market,  with  food  products  of  exclusive  regional  circulation  associated  with vessels and amphorae with local typologies. These questions intertwine with and converge to the problem of the port structure necessary for the flow of African production. Introductory studies evaluate  ship  flows  and  suggest their  routes  in  the  Mediterranean  basin,  however,  relevant researches in this context reveal the role of artificial ports. Although this evidence was neglected for   a   long   time,   it   has   been   now demonstrated that artificial   ports   were not   only the overwhelming   majority   but   also determinant   in   the   context   in   which   relations   between connectivity  and  economic  activities  in  the Late  Roman  Period  were  carried  out.The  article offers an overview of this debate

A SWOT model of the challenges and benefits of volunteer involvement in US non-profit organisations during times of fiscal stress

As a result of the current fiscal crisis, the US Federal Government is calling on non-profit organisations and communities across the country to contribute their service through volunteering. This study uses qualitative data retrieved from a purposive sample of New York City non-profit administrators to determine the challenges and benefits of volunteer involvement in US non-profit organisations during the economic downturn that began in 2008. Findings conclude that although US Federal Government initiatives, including $50 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act allocated to the strengthening communities fund provided non-profits the opportunity to draw on an influx of a highly skilled pool of volunteers, many non-profits remain underfunded, understaffed and unequipped to make the most of those who are looking to serve

Women in Public Administration in the United States: Leadership, Gender Stereotypes, and Bias

In the public and private sectors, women continue to address multiple hurdles despite diversity and equity initiatives. Women have made tremendous strides in the workforce but are still a minority in leadership positions worldwide in multiple sectors, including nonprofit, corporate, government, medicine, education, military, and religion. In the United States women represent 60% of bachelor’s degrees earned at universities and outpace men in master’s and doctoral programs. However, a significant body of research illustrates that women’s upward mobility has been concentrated in middle management positions. Women hold 52% of all management and professional roles in the U.S. job market, including physicians and attorneys. Yet women fall behind in representation in senior level positions. In the legal profession, for example, women represent 45% of associates but only 22.7% are partners. In medicine, women represent 40% of all physicians and surgeons but only 16% are permanent medical school deans. In academia, women surpass men in doctorates but only 32% are full professors. Furthermore, only 5% of chief executive officers (CEOs) in Fortune 500 companies and 19% of the board members in companies included in Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Composite 1500 Index are women. Progress is even more elusive for women of color despite making up 38.3% of the female civilian labor force. Only two women of color are Fortune 500 CEOs and only 4.7% of women are executive or senior level official managers in S&P 1500 companies. There are more women in leadership positions in the public sector than in the private sector. In 2014, 43.5% of women between the ages of 23 and 34 were managers at public companies, compared to 26% in similar positions in the private sector. In 2018, 127 women were elected to the U.S. Congress and 47 of those serving in 2018 were women of color. In addition, the first Native American woman, first Muslim woman, and Congress’s youngest woman were elected in that year. However, there is still progress to be made to close the gap, especially in senior-level positions. The significance of these statistics is staggering and confirms the need for attention. The percentage of women holding leadership positions in the public and private sectors, especially in business and education, has grown steadily in the past decade. However, subtle barriers like bias and stereotypes unfavorably encumber women’s career progression and are often used to explain the lack of women in leadership positions