Britain’s departure from “Ever Closer Union” is of great significance

The expression “ever closer union” remains a driving force of European integration of the federalist kind, writes Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, who took part in the expert proceedings on the topic at the LSE Commission on the Future of Britain in Europe. This is why if the UK were to decide to remain in the EU after 23 June, the reform package secured by David Cameron in this area could be of great significance. However, this would have to be accompanied by real political drive on the part of UK government, in order to exploit opportunities and resist the inevitable moves by others towards greater integration

Basic Psychological Needs, Suicidal Ideation, and Risk for Suicidal Behavior in Young Adults

Associations between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness with current suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior were examined. Two logistic regressions were conducted with a cross-sectional database of 440 university students to examine the association of need satisfaction with suicidal ideation and risk for suicidal behavior, while controlling for demographics and depressive symptoms. Suicidal ideation was reported by 15% of participants and 18% were found to be at risk for suicidal behavior. A one standard deviation increase in need satisfaction reduced the odds of suicidal ideation by 53%, OR (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.33–0.67), and the odds of being at risk for suicidal behavior by 50%, OR (95% CI) = 0.50 (0.37–0.69). Young adults whose basic psychological needs are met may be less likely to consider suicide and engage in suicidal behavior. Prospective research is needed to confirm these associations

Superscaling of Inclusive Electron Scattering from Nuclei

We investigate the degree to which the concept of superscaling, initially developed within the framework of the relativistic Fermi gas model, applies to inclusive electron scattering from nuclei. We find that data obtained from the low energy loss side of the quasielastic peak exhibit the superscaling property, i.e., the scaling functions f(\psi') are not only independent of momentum transfer (the usual type of scaling: scaling of the first kind), but coincide for A \geq 4 when plotted versus a dimensionless scaling variable \psi' (scaling of the second kind). We use this behavior to study as yet poorly understood properties of the inclusive response at large electron energy loss.Comment: 33 pages, 12 color EPS figures, LaTeX2e using BoxedEPSF macros; email to [email protected]

La Bundeswehr en transition

The Bundeswehr in Transition, by Geoffrey Van Orden The development of the German Armed Forces over the next few years will again give an indication of the direction of German security and foreign policy. For the moment, there is sensitivity to infringement of the new-found German sovereignty and creation of a distinctly national command structure in spite of defence rhetoric which emphasises multipast, from psychological and political and Treaty constraints, the problems of absorbing eléments of the former East German Armed Forces, and the need to reassure erstwhile opponents and current allies. The new structure can only be regarded as transitional until Germany defines its role in world affairs and enables its Army to achieve the « normality » of being able to contribute to both national security and integration, and Germany's international prestige.L'évolution des forces armées allemandes au cours des quelques prochaines années donnera à nouveau une idée de la direction vers laquelle s'orientent la sécurité et la politique étrangère de l'Allemagne. Pour le moment, il existe chez les Allemands une sensibilité à l'égard de toute atteinte à la souveraineté de l'Allemagne nouvellement recouvrée et de la création d'une structure de commandement expressément allemande, malgré la rhétorique en matière de défense qui met l'accent sur le caractère multinational. Mais la nouvelle Bundeswehr ne peut échapper entièrement à son passé, à ses contraintes psychologiques et politiques et à celles relatives au Traité, aux problèmes liés à l'absorption d'éléments des anciennes forces armées est-allemandes et la nécessité de rassurer ses adversaires d'autrefois et ses alliés actuels. On ne peut considérer la nouvelle structure que comme transitoire jusqu'à ce que l'Allemagne définisse son rôle sur l'échiquier mondial et permette à son armée d'atteindre la « normalité », qui veut qu'elle soit en mesure de contribuer à la fois à la sécurité et à l'intégration nationales, ainsi qu'au prestige international de l'Allemagne.van Orden. La Bundeswehr en transition. In: Politique étrangère, n°4 - 1991 - 56ᵉannée. pp. 873-890

The helping older people engage (HOPE) study: Protocol & COVID modifications for a randomized trial

Objectives: Evidence-based strategies to reduce loneliness in later life are needed because loneliness impacts all domains of health, functioning, and quality of life. Volunteering is a promising strategy, as a large literature of observational studies documents associations between volunteering and better health and well-being. However, relatively few studies have used randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine benefits of volunteering, and none have examined loneliness. The primary objective of the Helping Older People Engage (HOPE) study is to examine the social-emotional benefits of a social volunteering program for lonely older adults. This manuscript describes the rationale and design of the trial. Methods: We are randomly assigning adults aged 60 or older (up to 300) who report loneliness to 12 months of either AmeriCorps Seniors volunteering program or an active control (self-guided life review). Co-primary outcomes are assessed via self-report—loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref). Enrollment was completed in May 2022 and follow-up assessments will continue through May 2023, with completion of primary outcomes soon thereafter. Conclusions: Since older adults who report loneliness are less likely to actively seek out volunteering opportunities, if results support efficacy of volunteering for reducing loneliness, dissemination and scaling up efforts may involve connecting primary care patients who are lonely with AmeriCorps Seniors through aging services agencies.This RCT is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03343483)

The Museum of Renaissance Music: A History in 100 Exhibits

This book collates 100 exhibits with accompanying essays as an imaginary museum dedicated to the musical cultures of Renaissance Europe, at home and in its global horizons. It is a history through artefacts—materials, tools, instruments, art objects, images, texts, and spaces—and their witness to the priorities and activities of people in the past as they addressed their world through music. The result is a history by collage, revealing overlapping musical practices and meanings—not only those of the elite, but reflecting the everyday cacophony of a diverse culture and its musics. Through the lens of its exhibits, this museum surveys music’s central role in culture and lived experience in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Europe, offering interest and insights well beyond the strictly musicological field