Youth, Work and Lifestyles in an Indonesian Industrial Town

This dissertation is an ethnographic study of lower middle class youth and their education-to-work transitions in the Indonesian industrial town of Cilegon, Banten. The study examines how relatively educated young men and women (upper secondary school and tertiary graduates) navigate the contemporary opportunities and uncertainties of Cilegon’s changing job market, in particular against the background of the upcoming privatisation of the town’s biggest steel factory and the high rates of youth un(der)employment in the region. Cilegon experienced rapid economic growth and industrial development during the Suharto period (1966-1998), but is currently among the regions with the highest youth unemployment rates in Indonesia. Thus large-scale, corporate investment in Cilegon’s heavy and chemical industries did not result in significant job creation for Cilegon’s growing population of educated youth. Paradoxically, at a time when increasing numbers of lower middle class families invest in formal education for their children, their opportunities to economically benefit from schooling are declining (see also Jeffrey et al. 2008: 9 for the context of India). The study illustrates how young people’s attempts to secure a livelihood are thwarted by an overcrowded labour market and a range of challenges stemming from nepotism, the unfair logics of the market, and inequalities around class, gender and ethnicity. More specifically, the study analyses the gendered tensions and contradictory effects of economic restructuring, privatisation and a decline of jobs in heavy industries which produce a hostile and highly competitive environment for young men, while the rise of consumer culture and a shift towards service industries seems to favour young women who experience a more flexible working situation

Generasi antara: refleksi tentang studi pemuda Indonesia

Tulisan ini menyajikan tinjauan reflektif tentang studi pemuda Indonesia. Bagian utamanya membahas sejumlah ide kunci tentang pemuda, terbagi dalam tiga subbagian utama yaitu tentang “pemuda sebagai generasi”, “pemuda sebagai transisi” dan “pemuda sebagai pencipta dan konsumen budaya”

Northern Hemisphere Glaciation during the Globally Warm Early Late Pliocene

The early Late Pliocene (3.6 to ~3.0 million years ago) is the last extended interval in Earth's history when atmospheric CO2 concentrations were comparable to today's and global climate was warmer. Yet a severe global glaciation during marine isotope stage (MIS) M2 interrupted this phase of global warmth ~3.30 million years ago, and is seen as a premature attempt of the climate system to establish an ice-age world. Here we propose a conceptual model for the glaciation and deglaciation of MIS M2 based on geochemical and palynological records from five marine sediment cores along a Caribbean to eastern North Atlantic transect. Our records show that increased Pacific-to-Atlantic flow via the Central American Seaway weakened the North Atlantic Current and attendant northward heat transport prior to MIS M2. The consequent cooling of the northern high latitude oceans permitted expansion of the continental ice sheets during MIS M2, despite near-modern atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Sea level drop during this glaciation halted the inflow of Pacific water to the Atlantic via the Central American Seaway, allowing the build-up of a Caribbean Warm Pool. Once this warm pool was large enough, the Gulf Stream–North Atlantic Current system was reinvigorated, leading to significant northward heat transport that terminated the glaciation. Before and after MIS M2, heat transport via the North Atlantic Current was crucial in maintaining warm climates comparable to those predicted for the end of this century

The distribution of long-chain n-alkan-2-ones in peat can be used to infer past changes in pH

Long-chain (C21-C33) n-alkan-2-ones are biomarkers ubiquitous in peat deposits. However, their paleoenvironmental significance lacks constraints. Here we evaluate the influence pH exerts on the occurrence of long-chain n-alkan-2-ones in Chinese peats. A comparison of the distribution in a collection (n= 65) of modern peat samples with different pH (pH values 4.4-8.6) from China demonstrates that their distribution is significantly different in acid compared to alkaline peat. This difference can be explained by the pH control on the conversion of n-alkan-2-one precursor compounds (n-alkanes and fatty acids). Transfer functions between pH and n-alkan-2-one ratios were established using linear and logarithmic regression models. We then applied these proxies to reconstruct variations of paleo-pH in the Dajiuhu peat sequence to identify the history of peatland acidification over the last 13 kyr. We find significant changes in paleo-pH during the deglaciation/early Holocene and relate these to times of dry climate in the region. The drought-induced peat acidification is supported by observations from modern drying events in the peatland. We propose that long-chain n-alkan-2-ones in peats have potential to trace paleo-pH changes across the deglaciation and Holocene, although further research from different peatlands and time periods is still needed

Acral peeling skin syndrome in two East-African siblings: case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acral peeling skin syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis due to a missense mutation in transglutaminase 5. The skin peeling occurs at the separation of the stratum corneum from the stratum granulosum.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a case of two siblings who developed continuous peeling of the palms and soles from the first year of life. This peeling was more severe on the soles than palms and on younger sibling than elder sibling. Peeling is worsened by occlusion and sweating.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sporadic cases of Acral Peeling Skin Syndrome occur in African population. There is variability in time of presentation and clinical severity even within families.</p