Suchergebnisse

Este artículo de investigación reconstruye la trayectoria del G20 desde 2008 hasta la actualidad, con especial foco en tres temas de su agenda –regulación financiera, comercio internacional y deuda soberana– que son centrales tanto por su peso durante la última década como por su relevancia en la etapa actual. Se analiza en particular qué continuidades y rupturas exhibieron las posiciones del G20 respecto de aquellas políticas previamente impulsadas por el G7, con el fin de evaluar el impacto real que tuvo la incorporación de las economías emergentes a la mesa chica de la gobernanza mundial. Nos preguntamos si la consagración del G20 como foro de Jefes/as de Estado generó cambios en las políticas de liberalización, desregulación y financierización y, en ese caso, en qué consistieron dichos cambios. En el escenario actual, marcado por la crisis del multilateralismo y de la hiperglobalización, el G20 desembarca en América Latina debilitado, cuestionado y fracturado. El futuro del foro se debate entre la conflictividad y la intrascendencia, aunque, quizás, también ofrezca una oportunidad impensada: la de impulsar a las mayorías del mundo a construir una nueva forma de cooperación multilateral que sirva directamente a los intereses nacionales, con eje en el desarrollo sustentable y sobre los valores de solidaridad, democracia e igualdad. ; This article reconstructs the trajectory of the G20 from 2008 to the present, focusing on three issues on its agenda: financial regulation, international trade and sovereign debt. These issues are key given not only their weight over the past decade but also because of their relevance today. Our analysis highlights continuities and ruptures in the G20's position on policies previously promoted by the G7, in order to assess the real impact of including emerging economies at the small table of global governance. In this regard, we explore whether the rise of the G20 to a forum of Heads of State has led to changes for liberalization, deregulation and financialization policies and, to the extent it has, what those changes were. In the current scenario, marked by the crisis of multilateralism and hyperglobalization, the G20 disembarks in Latin America weakened, questioned and fractured. The future of the forum is torn between conflict and insignificance. That said, there is a third possible scenario, an unforeseen opportunity to encourage the world's majorities to build a new form of multilateral cooperation that directly serves national interests, with sustainable development at its core, built on the values of solidarity, democracy and equality.

У статті йдеться про потребу інформаційної, зокрема культурної, взаємодії України з іншими державами для ефективного досягнення поставлених політичних, економічних, безпекових тощо цілей. Наголошується на тому, що така діяльність є важливою не лише щодо традиційних провідних гравців на «глобальній шахівниці», але і для регіонів і країн, зв'язки з якими отримують нову актуальність і нове наповнення, зокрема це стосується тюркських держав і народів. Тюрки, їх уряди дуже шанобливо ставляться до власних культурних надбань, до їх популяризації у світі, тому співпраця з ними через культурну взаємодію є дуже ефективною. Протягом ХХ ст. українські науковці досягли значних успіхів у розвитку і популяризації українсько-тюркських стосунків, зараз актуалізується потреба повернення їх здобутків до активного використання і розгортання системної діяльності у взаємному культурному збагаченні й культурному зацікавленні. ; В статье рассматривается необходимость информационного, в частности культурного, взаимодействия Украины с другими государствами для эффективного достижения поставленнях политических, экономических целей, целей безопасности и т. д. Акцентируется внимание на том, что такая деятельность является важным не только относительно традиционных ведущих игроков на «глобальной шахматной доске», но и для регионов и стран, связи с которыми приобретают новую актуальность и новое наполнение, в частности это относится и к тюркским государствам и народам. Тюрки, их руководство очень уважительно относятся к собственным культурным достижениям, к их популяризации в мире, поэтому сотрудничество с ними через культурное взаимодействие является очень эффективным. На протяжении ХХ в. украинские ученые достигли значительных успехов в развитии и популяризации украинско-тюркских взаимоотношений, сейчас актуализируется необходимость возвращения их наработок к активному использованию и начала системной деятельности по взаимному культурному обогащению и культурной заинтересованности. ; The article deals with the need for informational, in particular cultural, interaction of Ukraine with other states for the effective achievement of the set political, economic, security, etc. objectives. It is emphasized that such interaction is important not only for the traditional leading players in the "global chessboard" but also with those regions and countries, links with which receive new urgency and new content, in particular, it concerns the Turkic states and peoples. The Turks, their governments are very respectful of their own cultural heritage, to their popularization in the world, so cooperation with them through cultural interaction is very effective. During the XXth century, Ukrainian scholars have made significant progress in the development and popularization of Ukrainian and Turkic relations, the need to return their work to active use and to develop systematic activities in mutual cultural enrichment and cultural interest are now updated.

The article addresses the problems of realization of social and economic human rights in the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as their connection with civil and political rights. It is drawn to the fact that there are certain contradictions between the principles enshrined in the declaration. The author raises the issue of dignity, cultural differences, and justice in the distribution of public goods. The question of the state's responsibilities in the provision of social and economic rights is considered. States have a primary responsibility for the social and economic well-being of their citizens. Fair economic growth must play a decisive role in this area, and it is important to consolidate the link between the economic policy and the human rights. The support of the international community should, to a certain extent, be conditional on the governments of individual countries fulfilling their own responsibilities. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights leaves open the question of the placement of social and economic rights in the constitutions of the countries and the issue of their judicial protection. The most effective instrument for realizing these rights will be the development of social legislation, rather than the general provisions of social rights in the constitutions of countries. However, the problems faced by many states can not be fully solved by the efforts of the state alone. The question of morality is the interpretation of the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Economic Rights as an obligation of the international community to act to prevent poverty in the world. The possibility of involving not only states but also international enterprises in the process of combatting poverty is considered. On the basis of the Declaration, the companies and other interested parties begin to formulate sectoral standards of human rights. Possible ways to implement social and economic rights at the local and global levels are also discussed.Article received 10.04.2018 ; У статті розглянуто проблеми реалізації соціальних та економічних прав людини в контексті Загальної декларації прав людини, а також їхній зв'язок із громадянськими та політичними правами. Звернено увагу на певні суперечності між принципами, закріпленими в Декларації. Порушено питання гідності, культурних відмінностей та справедливості в розподілі суспільних благ. Розглянуто можливість залучення не тільки держав, а й міжнародних підприємств до подолання бідності, можливі шляхи впровадження соціальних та економічних прав на локальному та глобальному рівнях.Матеріал надійшов 10.04.2018

Phytoplankton and bacteria are sensitive indicators of environmental change. The temporal development of these key organisms was monitored from 1988 to the end of 2007 at the time series station Boknis Eck in the western Baltic Sea. This period was characterized by the adaption of the Baltic Sea ecosystem to changes in the environmental conditions caused by the conversion of the political system in the southern and eastern border states, accompanied by the general effects of global climate change. Measured variables were chlorophyll, primary production, bacteria number, -biomass and -production, glucose turnover rate, macro-nutrients, pH, temperature and salinity. Negative trends with time were recorded for chlorophyll, bacteria number, bacterial biomass and bacterial production, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate, silicate, oxygen and salinity while temperature, pH, and the ratio between bacteria numbers and chlorophyll increased. Strongest reductions with time occurred for the annual maximum values, e.g. for chlorophyll during the spring bloom or for nitrate during winter, while the annual minimum values remained more stable. In deep water above sediment the negative trends of oxygen, nitrate, phosphate and bacterial variables as well as the positive trend of temperature were similar to those in the surface while the trends of salinity, ammonia and silicate were opposite to those in the surface. Decreasing oxygen, even in the surface layer, was of particular interest because it suggested enhanced recycling of nutrients from the deep hypoxic zones to the surface by vertical mixing. The long-term seasonal patterns of all variables correlated positively with temperature, except chlorophyll and salinity. Salinity correlated negatively with all bacterial variables (as well as precipitation) and positively with chlorophyll. Surprisingly, bacterial variables did not correlate with chlorophyll, which may be inherent with the time lag between the peaks of phytoplankton and bacteria during spring. Compared to the 20-yr averages of the environmental and microbial variables, the strongest negative deviations of corresponding annual averages were measured about ten years after political change for nitrate and bacterial secondary production (~ −60%), followed by chlorophyll (−50%) and bacterial biomass (−40%). Considering the circulation of surface currents in the Baltic Sea we interpret the observed patterns of the microbial variables at the Boknis Eck time series station as a consequence of the improved management of water resources after 1989 and – to a minor extent – the trends of the climate variables salinity and temperature.

Education system is divided in to two classes: formal and informal. Formal education establishes the basis of theory and practical learning whereas informal education is largely self-learning, learning from real world projects. Generally science and technology streams require formal method of education. The social and related aspects can be taught through the other methods. Education is a media through which the foundation of the knowledge and skill is built. The statistics reveals the increase in the trend of the literate population. This may be accounted due to the level of urbanization and migration to the cities in search for the "white-collar jobs". As a result, a shift in the employment structure is observed from a primary sector to a secondary and tertiary sector. Thomas Friedman in his book 'The World is Flat' quotes the impact of globalization on adaptation of science and technology, the world has become large to tiny. One of the technologies to mention here is geospatial technology. With the advancement in the satellite remote sensing, geographical information system, global positioning system, the database management system has become important subject areas. The countries are accounting hugh budget on the space technology, which includes education, training and research. Today many developing countries do not have base maps, they are lacking in the systemic data and record keeping, which are essential for governance, decision making and other development purpose. There is no trained manpower available. There is no standard hardware and software identified. An imbalance is observed when the government is promoting the use of geospatial technology, there is no trained manpower nor the availability of the experts to review the accurateness of the spatial data developed. There are very few universities which impart the degree level education, there are very few trained faculty members who give standard education, there exists a lack of standard syllabus. On the other hand, the industry requires high skilled manpower, high experienced manpower. This is a low equilibrium situation. Since the need is enhancing day by day, the shortage of the skilled manpower is increasing, the need of the geomatics education emerges. This paper researches on the need assessment of the education in geospatial specialization. It emphasises on the challenges and issues prevail in geospatial education and in the specialized fields of remote sensing and GIS. This paper analyse the need assessment through all the three actors: government, geospatial industry and education institutions.

We present the main messages of a European Expert Round Table (ERT) on the unintended side effects (unseens) of the digital transition. Seventeen experts provided 42 propositions from ten different perspectives as input for the ERT. A full-day ERT deliberated communalities and relationships among these unseens and provided suggestions on (i) what the major unseens are ; (ii) how rebound effects of digital transitioning may become the subject of overarching research ; and (iii) what unseens should become subjects of transdisciplinary theory and practice processes for developing socially robust orientations. With respect to the latter, the experts suggested that the &ldquo ; ownership, economic value, use and access of data&rdquo ; and, related to this, algorithmic decision-making call for transdisciplinary processes that may provide guidelines for key stakeholder groups on how the responsible use of digital data can be developed. A cluster-based content analysis of the propositions, the discussion and inputs of the ERT, and a theoretical analysis of major changes to levels of human systems and the human&ndash ; environment relationship resulted in the following greater picture: The digital transition calls for redefining economy, labor, democracy, and humanity. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based machines may take over major domains of human labor, reorganize supply chains, induce platform economics, and reshape the participation of economic actors in the value chain. (Digital) Knowledge and data supplement capital, labor, and natural resources as major economic variables. Digital data and technologies lead to a post-fuel industry (post-) capitalism. Traditional democratic processes can be (intentionally or unintentionally) altered by digital technologies. The unseens in this field call for special attention, research and management. Related to the conditions of ontogenetic and phylogenetic development (humanity), the ubiquitous, global, increasingly AI-shaped interlinkage of almost every human personal, social, and economic activity and the exposure to indirect, digital, artificial, fragmented, electronically mediated data affect behavioral, cognitive, psycho-neuro-endocrinological processes on the level of the individual and thus social relations (of groups and families) and culture, and thereby, the essential quality and character of the human being (i.e., humanity). The findings suggest a need for a new field of research, i.e., focusing on sustainable digital societies and environments, in which the identification, analysis, and management of vulnerabilities and unseens emerging in the sociotechnical digital transition play an important role.

Malaria is a significant public health problem and impediment to socioeconomic development in countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), which comprises Cambodia, China's Yunnan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Over the past decade, intensified malaria control has greatly reduced the regional malaria burden. Driven by increasing political commitment, motivated by recent achievements in malaria control, and urged by the imminent threat of emerging artemisinin resistance, the GMS countries have endorsed a regional malaria elimination plan with a goal of eliminating malaria by 2030. However, this ambitious, but laudable, goal faces a daunting array of challenges and requires integrated strategies tailored to the region, which should be based on a mechanistic understanding of the human, parasite, and vector factors sustaining continued malaria transmission along international borders. Malaria epidemiology in the GMS is complex and rapidly evolving. Spatial heterogeneity requires targeted use of the limited resources. Border malaria accounts for continued malaria transmission and represents sources of parasite introduction through porous borders by highly mobile human populations. Asymptomatic infections constitute huge parasite reservoir requiring interventions in time and place to pave the way for malaria elimination. Of the two most predominant malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, the prevalence of the latter is increasing in most member GMS countries. This parasite requires the use of 8-aminoquinoline drugs to prevent relapses from liver hypnozoites, but high prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the endemic human populations makes it difficult to adopt this treatment regimen. The recent emergence of resistance to artemisinins and partner drugs in P. falciparum has raised both regional and global concerns, and elimination efforts are invariably prioritized against this parasite to avert spread. Moreover, the effectiveness of the two core vector control interventions—insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying—has been declining due to insecticide resistance and increased outdoor biting activity of mosquito vectors. These technical challenges, though varying from country to country, require integrated approaches and better understanding of the malaria epidemiology enabling targeted control of the parasites and vectors. Understanding the mechanism and distribution of drug-resistant parasites will allow effective drug treatment and prevent, or slow down, the spread of drug resistance. Coordination among the GMS countries is essential to prevent parasite reintroduction across the international borders to achieve regional malaria elimination.

Cough frequency, and its duration, is a biomarker that can be used in low-resource settings without the need of laboratory culture and has been associated with transmission and treatment response. Radiologic characteristics associated with increased cough frequency may be important in understanding transmission. The relationship between cough frequency and cavitary lung disease has not been studied. We analyzed data in 41 adults who were HIV negative and had culture-confirmed, drug-susceptible pulmonary TB throughout treatment. Cough recordings were based on the Cayetano Cough Monitor, and sputum samples were evaluated using microscopic observation drug susceptibility broth culture; among culture-positive samples, bacillary burden was assessed by means of time to positivity. CT scans were analyzed by a US-board-certified radiologist and a computer-automated algorithm. The algorithm evaluated cavity volume and cavitary proximity to the airway. CT scans were obtained within 1 month of treatment initiation. We compared small cavities (≤ 7 mL) and large cavities (> 7 mL) and cavities located closer to (≤ 10 mm) and farther from (> 10 mm) the airway to cough frequency and cough cessation until treatment day 60. Cough frequency during treatment was twofold higher in participants with large cavity volumes (rate ratio [RR], 1.98; P = .01) and cavities located closer to the airway (RR, 2.44; P = .001). Comparably, cough ceased three times faster in participants with smaller cavities (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.89; P = .06) and those farther from the airway (adjusted HR, 3.61;, P = .02). Similar results were found for bacillary burden and culture conversion during treatment. Cough frequency during treatment is greater and lasts longer in patients with larger cavities, especially those closer to the airway. ; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [R21AI094143]; Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health [D43TW006581, D43TW001140, D43TW010074, R25TW009340, R24TW007988, D43TW009349]; Grand Challenges Canada [0539-01-10, 0537-01-10]; Center for Infectious Disease Imaging; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering from the National Institutes of Health; Wellcome Trust [078067/Z/05/Z, 105788/Z/14/Z, 201251/Z/16/Z]; Imperial Biomedical Research Centre; Joint Global Health Trials [MR/K007467/1]; government of Canada [W5_PER_CDT1_PRISMA]; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [OPP1118545]; Innovation for Health and Development funding ; Open access article ; This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.

During the past decades, science has proven the effect of human made climate emissions on climate change. Human's emissions of greenhouse gases cause a warmer and wilder climate worldwide. Thus, there is a broad, global consensus to reduce emissions to prevent further climate change. Several intergovernmental agreements have been made which aim for emission reduction, the latest is the 2015 Paris Agreement. In addition, a development of national climate acts is seen. The UK was a pioneer in this work and enacted their Climate Change Act in 2008. The Nordic countries followed suit, and Norway enacted their Climate Act in June 2017. Both national and international policies on climate have, however, suffered from the time-inconsistency problem, where long-term policies – which are needed to solve the climate issue – are neglected in favour of short-term policies, which can be conducted and give results within a shorter time. Thus, the climate policies need measures to avoid time-inconsistency and prioritise long-term policies and measures. My motivation for this thesis has been to understand why this time-inconsistency occurs and what can be done to avoid it. This thesis analyses the policy-making process of the Norwegian Climate Act. This includes an analysis of the actors involved and why the act was enacted at a specific time. The thesis also attempts to analyse whether the act is a good instrument for long-term planning and reduction of time-inconsistencies. The sources used are essentially official documents from the process of making the act, and interviews with persons involved in the process. The main findings are that the policy-making process involved actors from all sectors. Most actors supported an act, while especially the economic actors were less supportive and feared an act would reduce their competitiveness. Many of the politicians, including the Government, focused on a need for cost-effective measures, while the actors who supported the act wanted it to be more stringent. They argued to include measures to prevent time-inconsistency, such as climate budgets, an advisory committee on climate change and annual reports. The only measure included in the act is annual reports, and an aim to cooperate with the EU to achieve the goals for emission reduction. Thus, this reporting, and the political opposition, ENGOs and the medias ability to give it attention and focus – in addition to a need for an establishment of a norm on emission reduction – will be crucial for the goal achievement of the act. ; M-IES

This is an open access article under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. ; Mercury‐dependent artisanal and small‐scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest source of mercury pollution on Earth. In this practice, elemental mercury is used to extract gold from ore as an amalgam. The amalgam is typically isolated by hand and then heated—often with a torch or over a stove—to distill the mercury and isolate the gold. Mercury release from tailings and vaporized mercury exceed 1000 tonnes each year from ASGM. The health effects on the miners are dire, with inhaled mercury leading to neurological damage and other health issues. The communities near these mines are also affected due to mercury contamination of water and soil and subsequent accumulation in food staples, such as fish—a major source of dietary protein in many ASGM regions. The risks to children are also substantial, with mercury emissions from ASGM resulting in both physical and mental disabilities and compromised development. Between 10 and 19 million people use mercury to mine for gold in more than 70 countries, making mercury pollution from ASGM a global issue. With the Minamata Convention on Mercury entering force this year, there is political motivation to help overcome the problem of mercury in ASGM. In this effort, chemists can play a central role. Here, the problem of mercury in ASGM is reviewed with a discussion on how the chemistry community can contribute solutions. Introducing portable and low‐cost mercury sensors, inexpensive and scalable remediation technologies, novel methods to prevent mercury uptake in fish and food crops, and efficient and easy‐to‐use mercury‐free mining techniques are all ways in which the chemistry community can help. To meet these challenges, it is critical that new technologies or techniques are low‐cost and adaptable to the remote and under‐resourced areas in which ASGM is most common. The problem of mercury pollution in ASGM is inherently a chemistry problem. We therefore encourage the chemistry community to consider and address this issue that affects the health of millions of people. ; The authors are grateful for the generous financial support provided by Flinders University, The Australian Research Council (DE150101863), and the Australian Government National Environmental Science Programme Emerging Priorities Funding.

The article addresses the problems of realization of social and economic human rights in the context of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as their connection with civil and political rights. It is drawn to the fact that there are certain contradictions between the principles enshrined in the declaration. The author raises the issue of dignity, cultural differences, and justice in the distribution of public goods. The question of the state's responsibilities in the provision of social and economic rights is considered. States have a primary responsibility for the social and economic well-being of their citizens. Fair economic growth must play a decisive role in this area, and it is important to consolidate the link between the economic policy and the human rights. The support of the international community should, to a certain extent, be conditional on the governments of individual countries fulfilling their own responsibilities. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights leaves open the question of the placement of social and economic rights in the constitutions of the countries and the issue of their judicial protection. The most effective instrument for realizing these rights will be the development of social legislation, rather than the general provisions of social rights in the constitutions of countries. However, the problems faced by many states can not be fully solved by the efforts of the state alone. The question of morality is the interpretation of the provisions of the Declaration on Social and Economic Rights as an obligation of the international community to act to prevent poverty in the world. The possibility of involving not only states but also international enterprises in the process of combatting poverty is considered. On the basis of the Declaration, the companies and other interested parties begin to formulate sectoral standards of human rights. Possible ways to implement social and economic rights at the local and global levels are also discussed.Article received 10.04.2018 ; У статті розглянуто проблеми реалізації соціальних та економічних прав людини в контексті Загальної декларації прав людини, а також їхній зв'язок із громадянськими та політичними правами. Звернено увагу на певні суперечності між принципами, закріпленими в Декларації. Порушено питання гідності, культурних відмінностей та справедливості в розподілі суспільних благ. Розглянуто можливість залучення не тільки держав, а й міжнародних підприємств до подолання бідності, можливі шляхи впровадження соціальних та економічних прав на локальному та глобальному рівнях.Матеріал надійшов 10.04.2018

The article deals with the need for informational, in particular cultural, interaction of Ukraine with other states for the effective achievement of the set political, economic, security, etc. objectives. It is emphasized that such interaction is important not only for the traditional leading players in the "global chessboard" but also with those regions and countries, links with which receive new urgency and new content, in particular, it concerns the Turkic states and peoples. The Turks, their governments are very respectful of their own cultural heritage, to their popularization in the world, so cooperation with them through cultural interaction is very effective. During the XXth century, Ukrainian scholars have made significant progress in the development and popularization of Ukrainian and Turkic relations, the need to return their work to active use and to develop systematic activities in mutual cultural enrichment and cultural interest are now updated. ; В статье рассматривается необходимость информационного, в частности культурного, взаимодействия Украины с другими государствами для эффективного достижения поставленнях политических, экономических целей, целей безопасности и т. д. Акцентируется внимание на том, что такая деятельность является важным не только относительно традиционных ведущих игроков на «глобальной шахматной доске», но и для регионов и стран, связи с которыми приобретают новую актуальность и новое наполнение, в частности это относится и к тюркским государствам и народам. Тюрки, их руководство очень уважительно относятся к собственным культурным достижениям, к их популяризации в мире, поэтому сотрудничество с ними через культурное взаимодействие является очень эффективным. На протяжении ХХ в. украинские ученые достигли значительных успехов в развитии и популяризации украинско-тюркских взаимоотношений, сейчас актуализируется необходимость возвращения их наработок к активному использованию и начала системной деятельности по взаимному культурному обогащению и культурной заинтересованности. ; У статті йдеться про потребу інформаційної, зокрема культурної, взаємодії України з іншими державами для ефективного досягнення поставлених політичних, економічних, безпекових тощо цілей. Наголошується на тому, що така діяльність є важливою не лише щодо традиційних провідних гравців на «глобальній шахівниці», але і для регіонів і країн, зв'язки з якими отримують нову актуальність і нове наповнення, зокрема це стосується тюркських держав і народів. Тюрки, їх уряди дуже шанобливо ставляться до власних культурних надбань, до їх популяризації у світі, тому співпраця з ними через культурну взаємодію є дуже ефективною. Протягом ХХ ст. українські науковці досягли значних успіхів у розвитку і популяризації українсько-тюркських стосунків, зараз актуалізується потреба повернення їх здобутків до активного використання і розгортання системної діяльності у взаємному культурному збагаченні й культурному зацікавленні.

This work was funded by NERC Grant NE/I006427/1 (CHL and GLF). PNP and GLF were supported by NERC/DEFRA/DECC Grant NE/H017581/1 (U.K. Ocean Acidification Research Programme). MPH was supported by NERC fellowship (NE/K00901X/1). SMS acknowledges the financial support provided by the Welsh Government and Higher Education Funding Council for Wales through the Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment Returning Fellowship. ; Over the course of the Neogene, the Earth underwent profound climatic shifts from the sustained warmth of the middle Miocene to the development of Plio-Pleistocene glacial–interglacial cycles. Major perturbations in the global carbon cycle have occurred alongside these shifts, however the lack of long-term carbonate system reconstructions currently limits our understanding of the link between changes in CO2, carbon cycling, and climate over this time interval. Here we reconstruct continuous surface ocean pH, CO2, and surface ocean aragonite saturation state using boron isotopes from the planktonic foraminifer Trilobatus trilobus and we perform a sensitivity analysis of the key variables in our calculations (e.g. δ11Bsw, [Ca]sw, CCD). We show that the choice of δ11Bsw influences both seawater pH and CO2 while [Ca]sw reconstructed dissolved inorganic carbon exerts a significant influence only on CO2. Over the last 22 Myr, the lowest pH levels occurred in the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO; 17–14 Myr ago) reaching ∼7.6 ± 0.1 units in all our scenarios. The extended warmth of the MMCO corresponds to mean CO2 and aragonite saturation state levels of 470–630 ppm and 2.7–3.5, respectively. Despite a general correspondence between our CO2 record and climate, all CO2 scenarios show a peak at ∼9 Ma not matched by corresponding changes in climate reconstructions. This may suggest decoupling (i.e. significant CO2 change without a discernible climate response) for a limited interval in the Late Miocene (11.6–8.5 Ma), although further refinement of our understanding of the temporal evolution of the boron isotopic composition of seawater is necessary to fully evaluate the nature of the relationship between CO2 and climate. Nonetheless, from our long-term view it is clear that low-latitude open ocean marine ecosystems are unlikely to have experienced sustained surface pH and saturation levels below 7.7 and 1.7, respectively, during the past 14 million years (66% CI). ; Publisher PDF ; Peer reviewed

At the end of the 20th Century, the global diffusion of economic neoliberalism represents, seen from diverse perspectives, the outcome of a communicative overlapping between the economic system and the political system. This overlapping is equivalent to a functional intrasparency, which generates paradoxes of democracy as the depoliticisation and exclusion phenomena when facing inclusion expectations, as occurs in the peripheries of the world. Depoliticisation, in fact, appears as a paradox of democratic systems closely related to the development of the technocratic practices and the enhancement of the bureaucratic apparatus. One of the characteristics of technocracy is that it lies on the assumption that great decisions are of technical nature, not political. If great decisions may be taken by means of technical instruments, it means that there is no longer need for 'professional politicians', and even less need for people's participation. Technocracy and burocracy converge above the traditional sphere reserved to politics. The consequence of this convergence is, in fact, depoliticisation. In other words, there is a relation between technocracy, burocracy and ideological crises. Hence, the more technical the decision-making process, the more burocratized will the process of power be, and the more deideologized will the process of fundamental choices be. Populist movements thus describe the effect of the attempt of providing responses to the issues of modern society, to the extent in which the economic value becomes the only discriminating variable between what is correct and what is wrong (what is economically pointless must be discarded) and it actually move the decisional process away from the political sphere, enhancing the differences between the center and the periphery, between inclusion and exclusion. In the light of such trends, which have become extensively resilient in the systems, how can the process of functional specification of social systems (economics, politics) be implemented in the peripheries of modernity? If trust in the political system lessens vis à vis problem-solving capabilities, how the consequent uncertainty be absorbed? This essay aims to describing the extent in which the depoliticisation process can compensate for the pressure put on expectations against inclusion values. The theme is tackled with an outlook that stems from the epistemological mutation of globalization and, consequently, from the resolution of the traditionally axial center/periphery pattern, and focuses on the analysis of peripheries that come into play as the protagonists of the two-way relationship with their center, albeit the unusual democratic participation, yet to be interpreted.

Background: The Society and College of Radiographers reports that by 2014, 18.1% of UK ultrasound vacancies remained unfilled, a substantial rise from the 10.9% reported in 2011, and the 10.1% reported in 2009.[1,2] Indeed by 2013, the UK government's Migration Advisory Committee had listed sonography as an official 'shortage specialty'.[3,4] The research reported herein is designed to lend qualitative depth to our current understanding of the "coal-face" situation in the UK's ultrasound units from the perspective of their managers. Methods: Using a Straussian model of Grounded Theory,[5,6] extended accounts provided by N=20 ultrasound department leads in public (n=17) and private (n=3) units were analysed. Results: Three global themes emerged from the analysis. The first addresses how a lack of staff in the broader economy has created a migratory system that works chiefly to the advantage of the most junior and the most senior clinicians, often leaving mid-career professionals in a borderline impossible situation. The second highlights how the knowledge economy in many departments is being stymied by early retirement and late-career migration, rendering questions about how advanced expertise in ultrasound might be obtained and sustained by the remaining experienced clinicians. The third underscores how it is often workplace instability, rather than simple short staffing, that is most damaging to staff morale, planning capacity and clinical self-efficacy. Conclusions: This work ideally opens up debates on some largely undiscussed practical contingencies of the sonographer shortage, and can help ground future deductive research in the real-world experience of key actors. References 1. Society and College of Radiographers. Sonographer workforce survey analysis. SCoR; 2014. 2. Society and College of Radiographers. Developing and growing the sonographer workforce: Education and training needs. SCoR; 2009. 3. Migration Advisory Committee. Skilled shortage sensible: Full review of the recommended shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland, a sunset clause and the creative occupations. 2013. 4. Parker PC, Harrison G. Educating the future sonographic workforce: Membership survey report from the British Medical Ultrasound Society. Ultrasound 2015;23:231-241. 5. Sloane C, Miller PK. Informing radiography curriculum development: The views of UK radiology service managers concerning the 'fitness for purpose' of recent diagnostic radiography graduates. Radiography 2017;23:S16-S22. 6. Charmaz, K., Grounded Theory, in: Smith, J.A., ed., Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Methods, Sage, London, 2008, 81-110.