"Sacred Stones & Religious Nuts" Negotiating Ethnic Disputes Over Absolute Space

This study focuses on ethnopolitical secessionist conflicts where, for historic, symbolic or spiritual reasons, the disputed space cannot be divided into sub-units but still, because of a mutually hurting stalemate (the cost of continued violence exceeds the perceived cost of negotiation), cannot be resolved in any way other than through negotiations. The stakes in such conflicts are not just "indivisible," but have become "absolute" in the perception of the parties. Territorial "absolutes" cannot be exchanged for something else (like security), paid off (by compensation), or substituted (by territory elsewhere else). Parties in such disputes often have identical or extremely similar (but exclusive) interests concerning a territory that is so well defined that flexibility is impossible to introduce. Two of the most prominent examples of absolute territorial conflicts are Kosovo and Israel/Palestine. Sacredness is an integral part of territorial absolutes because the spiritual connection between the land and the identity of an ethnic group makes conflicts different from most conflicts of secession or independence. When two ethnic groups have interlocking histories in a land that at least one side perceives as absolute, the dispute goes beyond the normal notions of self-determination or sovereignty. Whereas in most violent conflict situations, parties eventually reach a point where it is clear that continuing the conflict incurs higher costs than what would be lost through negotiation, conflicts over territorial absolutes seem to never reach this point. This can partly be explained by the fact that violence sometimes is sustained at low levels, enabling actors to keep refurbishing a dispute for generations. However, the argument put forth in this paper is that for many actors whose connection with a disputed territory is "absolute," no cost, including death, is too high if compared to giving up any of the land to the enemy group. This study explores territorial "absolutes" conceptually in order to explain how absolute perceptions influence conflict management and negotiation

An investigation into the use of computational and in vitro methods for acute systemic toxicity prediction

We have assessed the abilities of five alternative (non-animal) approaches to predict acute oral toxicity, a toxicological endpoint relevant to multiple pieces of legislation on chemicals and consumer products. In particular, we have investigated four QSAR models (ToxSuite, TOPKAT, TEST and ADMET Predictor) and one in vitro method (3T3 NRU). Based on a test set of in vitro and in vivo data for 180 compounds, we have characterized the predictive performance of each method when used alone (both for LD50 prediction and acute toxicity classification into three categories), as well as multiple test combinations (batteries) and stepwise testing strategies (for acute toxicity classification into three categories). When used individually, the alternative methods showed an ability to predict LD50 with correlation coefficients in the range from 49% to 84%, and to classify into three toxicity groups with accuracies in the range from 41% to 72%. When the alternative methods were combined into batteries or testing strategies, the overall accuracy of prediction could reach 76%. We also illustrate how different combinations of methods can be used to optimize sensitivity or specificity.JRC.I.5-Systems Toxicolog

The JRC Statistical Audit of the 2018 European Skills Index (ESI)

Increased connectivity between nations, technological development, changes in work organisation and demographic trends have profound effects on the future of work and workplaces. Policies focusing on skills development and human capital are essential to turn these structural changes into an opportunity for all, by increasing productivity levels and quality of life in the EU. The Commission services have developed an EU tailor-made monitoring framework – the European Skills Index (ESI) – that measures the performance of a country’s skills system taking into account its multiple facets from continually developing the skills of the population to activating and effectively matching these skills to the needs of employers in the labour market. The European Skills Index builds on three pillars: skills development, skills activation and skills matching. These pillars are used to organise and aggregate 15 individual indicators into a single summary measure. This framework inevitably entails both conceptual and practical challenges. The statistical audit discussed in this note was conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and it aims at maximising the reliability and transparency of the European Skills Index (1). It should enable policy analysts and researchers alike to draw more relevant, meaningful and useful conclusions on the national skills systems in the EU. (1) The JRC statistical audit is based on the recommendations of the OECD & JRC (2008) Handbook on Composite Indicators, and on more recent research from the JRC. Generally, JRC audits of composite indicators and scoreboards are conducted upon request of their developers, see https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/coin and https://composite-indicators.jrc.ec.europa.eu/JRC.I.1-Modelling, Indicators and Impact Evaluatio

The JRC Statistical Audit of the Social Progress Index (SPI)

A spur of social progress is enabling people to fulfil their own potential and in doing so the capability of the society they are a part of. The Social Progress Index (SPI) is an international monitoring framework for measuring social progress without resorting to the use of economic indicators. It provides a basis to understand the relationship between economic and social progress and measures country performance on aspects of social and environmental performance. The Social Progress Index builds on three dimensions: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing and Opportunity. These dimensions establish the basis of the framework and are used to aggregate 51 social outcome indicators organized in 12 components into a single summary measure. The statistical audit discussed in this report was conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and it aims at maximizing the reliability and transparency of the Social Progress Index. The audit focuses on the statistical coherence and the impact of key modelling assumptions used in the SPI framework. The statistical audit of the SPI should enable policy analysts and researchers alike to draw more relevant and well-targeted conclusions regarding inclusive growth strategies that benefit everyone at all levels of economic development.JRC.I.1-Modelling, Indicators and Impact Evaluatio

The regional gender equality monitor

Gender equality is one of the fundamental values of the European Union and the European Pillar of Social Rights establishes it as one of its key principles. While there are several measures of gender equality at country level there is none that capture regional differences in Europe. This new regional gender equality monitor consists of two composite indices that address two specific and complementary aspects of this multifaceted phenomenon. The first index assesses the female disadvantage by measuring regional differences when females are doing worse than males. The second index measures the female level of achievement compared to the best regional performance. The indices are called the Female Disadvantage Index (FemDI) and the Female Achievement Index (FemAI). Viewing together the two indices facilitates the understanding of where women are at disadvantage and where they are performing well across the different regions and between the Member States.JRC.I.1-Monitoring, Indicators & Impact Evaluatio

JRC Statistical Audit of the 2020 Gender Equality Index

The 2020 Gender Equality Index (GEI) ranks the 27 EU member states and the UK on 31 performance indicators measuring gender equalities in the six domains of work, money, knowledge, time, power, health and additionally the domain of violence, as well as intersecting inequalities. By providing relevant statistics, data and measures, all essential components for evidence-based policymaking and successful gender mainstreaming, it supports the assessment of policy outcomes on women and men. Since 2013 the Gender Equality Index is released biannually by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) while from 2019 and on, the releases will be on annual basis. The European Commission’s Competence Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards (COIN) at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) was invited by the European Institute for Gender Equality to audit the 2020 edition of the GEI. The statistical audit presented herein aims to contribute to ensuring the transparency of the GEI methodology and the reliability of the results. The report touches upon data quality issues, the conceptual and statistical coherence of the framework and the impact of modelling assumptions on the results. The analysis suggests that meaningful inferences can be drawn from the Gender Equality Index. It confirms that the 2020 GEI meets the quality standards for statistical soundness and acknowledges it as a reliable composite indicator to measure gender equality in the European Union.JRC.I.1-Monitoring, Indicators & Impact Evaluatio

Hmong Adults Self-Rated Oral Health: A Pilot Study

Since 1975, the Hmong refugee population in the U.S. has increased over 200%. However, little is known about their dental needs or self-rated oral health (SROH). The study aims were to: (1) describe the SROH, self-rated general health (SRGH), and use of dental/physician services; and (2) identify the factors associated with SROH among Hmong adults. A cross-sectional study design with locating sampling methodology was used. Oral health questionnaire was administered to assess SROH and SRGH, past dental and physician visits, and language preference. One hundred twenty adults aged 18–50+ were recruited and 118 had useable information. Of these, 49% rated their oral health as poor/fair and 30% rated their general health as poor/fair. Thirty-nine percent reported that they did not have a regular source of dental care, 46% rated their access to dental care as poor/fair, 43% visited a dentist and 66% visited a physician within the past 12 months. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that access to dental care, past dental visits, age and SRGH were significantly associated with SROH (P \u3c 0.05). Multivariate analyses demonstrated a strong association between access to dental care and good/excellent SROH. About half of Hmong adults rated their oral health and access to dental care as poor. Dental insurance, access to dental care, past preventive dental/physician visits and SRGH were associated with SROH

A modelling approach towards Epidermal homoeostasis control

In order to grasp the features arising from cellular discreteness and individuality, in large parts of cell tissue modelling agent-based models are favoured. The subclass of off-lattice models allows for a physical motivation of the intercellular interaction rules. We apply an improved version of a previously introduced off-lattice agent-based model to the steady-state flow equilibrium of skin. The dynamics of cells is determined by conservative and drag forces,supplemented with delta-correlated random forces. Cellular adjacency is detected by a weighted Delaunay triangulation. The cell cycle time of keratinocytes is controlled by a diffusible substance provided by the dermis. Its concentration is calculated from a diffusion equation with time-dependent boundary conditions and varying diffusion coefficients. The dynamics of a nutrient is also taken into account by a reaction-diffusion equation. It turns out that the analysed control mechanism suffices to explain several characteristics of epidermal homoeostasis formation. In addition, we examine the question of how {\em in silico} melanoma with decreased basal adhesion manage to persist within the steady-state flow-equilibrium of the skin.Interestingly, even for melanocyte cell cycle times being substantially shorter than for keratinocytes, tiny stochastic effects can lead to completely different outcomes. The results demonstrate that the understanding of initial states of tumour growth can profit significantly from the application of off-lattice agent-based models in computer simulations.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; version that is to appear in Journal of Theoretical Biolog

Dehydroepiandrosterone Supplementation Results in Varying Tissue-specific Levels of Dihydrotestosterone in Male Mice

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal androgen precursor, can be metabolized in target tissues into active sex steroids. It has been proposed that DHEA supplementation might result in restoration of physiological local sex steroid levels, but knowledge on the effect of DHEA treatment on local sex steroid levels in multiple tissues is lacking. To determine the effects of DHEA on tissue-specific levels of sex steroids, we treated orchiectomized (ORX) male mice with DHEA for 3 weeks and compared them with vehicle-treated ORX mice and gonadal intact mice. Intra-tissue levels of sex steroids were analyzed in reproductive organs (seminal vesicles, prostate, m. levator ani), major body compartments (white adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and brain), adrenals, liver, and serum using a sensitive and validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. DHEA treatment restored levels of both testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to approximately physiological levels in male reproductive organs. In contrast, this treatment did not increase DHT levels in skeletal muscle or brain. In the liver, DHEA treatment substantially increased levels of T (at least 4-fold) and DHT (+536%, P < 0.01) compared with vehicle-treated ORX mice. In conclusion, we provide a comprehensive map of the effect of DHEA treatment on intra-tissue sex steroid levels in ORX mice with a restoration of physiological levels of androgens in male reproductive organs while DHT levels were not restored in the skeletal muscle or brain. This, and the unexpected supraphysiological androgen levels in the liver, may be a cause for concern considering the uncontrolled use of DHEA

Joint Research Centre Statistical Audit of the 2018 Global Attractiveness Index

Attractiveness is a prerequisite and a symptom for competitiveness and it is valued both because it implies a nation’s ability to attract talent, capital and assets (know-how, technologies, and other), and because more in general it stimulates the whole process of economic and social development. The European House - Ambrosetti has developed an international monitoring framework – the Global Attractiveness Index (GAI) – that measures a country’s attractiveness as determining element of its ability to be competitive and to grow. The GAI builds on four attributes of attractiveness: Openness, Innovation, Efficiency, and Endowment. These pillars are used to organise and aggregate 21 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into a single summary measure for 144 countries that altogether cover approximately 93% of the world’s population and 99% of Gross Domestic Product (in US$) worldwide. This framework inevitably entails both conceptual and practical challenges. The statistical audit discussed in this note was conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, and it aims at maximising the reliability and transparency of the Global Attractiveness Index. It should enable policy analysts and researchers alike to draw more relevant, meaningful and useful conclusions on good practices and challenges that countries face in today’s competitive game to business and job creation.JRC.I.1-Modelling, Indicators and Impact Evaluatio