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EUCLIDS consortium. ; Non-coding genetic variants play an important role in driving susceptibility to complex diseases but their characterization remains challenging. Here, we employed a novel approach to interrogate the genetic risk of such polymorphisms in a more systematic way by targeting specific regulatory regions relevant for the phenotype studied. We applied this method to meningococcal disease susceptibility, using the DNA binding pattern of RELA – a NF-kB subunit, master regulator of the response to infection – under bacterial stimuli in nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. We designed a custom panel to cover these RELA binding sites and used it for targeted sequencing in cases and controls. Variant calling and association analysis were performed followed by validation of candidate polymorphisms by genotyping in three independent cohorts. We identified two new polymorphisms, rs4823231 and rs11913168, showing signs of association with meningococcal disease susceptibility. In addition, using our genomic data as well as publicly available resources, we found evidences for these SNPs to have potential regulatory effects on ATXN10 and LIF genes respectively. The variants and related candidate genes are relevant for infectious diseases and may have important contribution for meningococcal disease pathology. Finally, we described a novel genetic association approach that could be applied to other phenotypes. ; This work has been partially funded by the European Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) under EUCLIDS Grant Agreement No. 279185. The UK meningococcal cohort was established with support from Meningitis Research Foundation through grants to Imperial College London. The Research from Newcastle partners was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre based at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The ESIGEM Research group activities were supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Proyecto de Investigación en Salud, Acción Estratégica en Salud: proyecto GePEM PI16/01478) (A.S.); Consellería de Sanidade, Xunta de Galicia (RHI07/2-intensificación actividad investigadora, PS09749 and 10PXIB918184PR), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Intensificación de la actividad investigadora 2007–2016), Convenio de colaboración de investigación (Wyeth España-Fundación IDICHUS 2007–2011), Convenio de colaboración de investigación (Novartis España-Fundación IDICHUS 2010–2011), Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS; PI070069/PI1000540) del plan nacional de I + D + I and 'fondos FEDER' (F.M.T.). The Swiss Pediatric Sepsis study was funded by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (342730_153158/1), the Swiss Society of Intensive Care, the Bangerter Foundation, the Vinetum and Borer Foundation, and the Foundation for the Health of Children and Adolescents. The Western Europe Meningococcal Study was supported by grants no 8842, 10112 and 12710 of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austria), grants A3-16.K-8/2008-11 and A3-16.K-8/2006–9 of the Department for Science and Research of the Styrian federal government (Austria) and the non for profit association 'In Vita', Graz (Austria). ; Peer reviewed

Rationale: Body composition changes throughout life may explain the inconsistent associations reported between body mass index and lung function in children. Objectives: To assess the associations of body weight and composition trajectories from 7 to 15 years with lung function at 15 years and lung function growth between 8 and 15 years. Methods: Sex-specific body mass index, lean body mass index, and fat mass index trajectories were developed using Group-Based Trajectory Modeling on data collected at least twice between 7 and 15 years from 6,964 children (49% boys) in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort. Associations of these trajectories with post-bronchodilation lung function parameters at 15 years and with lung function growth rates from 8 to 15 years were assessed using multivariable linear regression models, stratified by sex, in a subgroup with lung function data (n = 3,575). Measurements and Main Results: For all body mass measures we identified parallel trajectories that increased with age. There was no consistent evidence of an association between the body mass index trajectories and lung function measures. Higher lean body mass index trajectories were associated with higher levels and growth rates of FVC, FEV1, and forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase in both sexes (e.g., boys in the highest lean body mass index trajectory had on average a 0.62 L [95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.79; P trend < 0.0001] higher FVC at 15 yr than boys in the lowest trajectory). Increasing fat mass index trajectories were associated with lower levels and growth rates of FEV1 and forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase only in boys and lower levels of FEV1/FVC in both sexes. Conclusions: Higher lean body mass during childhood and adolescence is consistently associated with higher lung function at 15 years in both sexes, whereas higher fat mass is associated with lower levels of only some lung function parameters. ; The present analyses are part of the ALEC (Ageing Lungs in European Cohorts) Study (www.alecstudy.org), which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 633212. The content of this article reflects only the authors' views, and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust (grant reference number: 102215/2/13/2) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. A comprehensive list of grant funding is available on the ALSPAC website (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf). Specifically, grants from Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council (076467/Z/05/Z and G0401540/73080) supported the collection of body composition and lung function data at 15 years. E.F. is supported by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (H2020-MSCA-IF-2015; proposal number 704268). C.R. is the recipient of a European Respiratory Society Fellowship (RESPIRE3-201703-00127, under H2020—Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND).

Loans from international organizations impose large costs on the receiving nation. The decisions to accept such loans and then whether or not to implement the prescribed reforms are made with high stakes in mind. Domestic leaders are most likely facing punishment for the current economic crisis, but what is their incentive to implement the arrangements if the costly reforms associated with the loans may reduce their ability to satisfy their supporters? To fully understand this relationship, I develop a theory that explains leader tenure in the post-reform period as a function of the rational decision to accept a loan. Leaders who expect to be secure in the adjustment period are more willing to accept the conditions that accompany loans rather than attempt to withstand the crisis on their own. With the use of a selection duration model, I examine the interplay between electoral incentives and institutional dynamics to show that leaders governing under different institutional arrangements are affected differently for involvement in IMF loans. Since leaders choose when to accept IMF loans based on their own expectations of post-reform tenure, democratic leaders are less likely to participate in loans. Authoritarian leaders, on the other hand, are more likely to participate in agreements because their hold on power in the post-reform period is stronger. [Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Ltd., copyright, the International Political Science Association.]

The assessment of early life socioeconomic position (SEP) is essential to the tackling of social inequalities in health. Although different indicators capture different SEP dimensions, maternal education is often used as the only indicator in birth cohort research, especially in multi-cohort analyses. Household income, as a direct measure of material resources, is one of the most important indicators, but one that is underused because it is difficult to measure through questionnaires. We propose a method to construct a standardized, cross-cohort comparable income indicator, the "Equivalized Household Income Indicator (EHII)", which measures the equivalized disposable household income, using external data from the pan-European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EUSILC) surveys, and data from the cohorts. We apply this method to four studies, Piccolipiù and NINFEA from Italy and ELFE and EDEN from France, comparing the distribution of EHII with other SEP-related variables available in the cohorts, and estimating the association between EHII and child body mass index (BMI). We found that basic parental and household characteristics may be used, with a fairly good performance, to predict the household income. We observed a strong correlation between EHII and both the self-reported income, whenever available, and other individual socioeconomic-related variables, and an inverse association with child BMI. EHII could contribute to improving research on social inequalities in health, in particular in the context of European birth cohort collaborative studies. ; LIFECYCLE: The LIFE-CYCLE project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 733206. This publication reflects only the author's views and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. STOP: The STOP project (http://www.stopchildobesity.eu/) received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 774548. The STOP Consortium is coordinated by Imperial College London and includes 24 organisations across Europe, the United States and New Zealand. The content of this publication reflects only the views of the authors, and the European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information it contains. Piccolipiù. The Piccolipiù project was financially supported by the Italian National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM grants years 2010 and 2014) and by the Italian Ministry of Health (art 12 and 12 bis D.lgs 502/92). NINFEA. The NINFEA cohort was partially funded by the Compagnia San Paolo Fundation and by the Piedmont Region. ELFE. The Elfe survey is a joint project between the French Institute for Demographic Studies (INED) and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), in partnership with the French blood transfusion service (Etablissement français du sang, EFS), Santé publique France, the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), the Direction générale de la santé (DGS, part of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs), the Direction générale de la prévention des risques (DGPR, Ministry for the Environment), the Direction de la recherche, des études, de l'évaluation et des statistiques (DREES, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs), the Département des études, de la prospective et des statistiques (DEPS, Ministry of Culture), and the Caisse nationale des allocations familiales (CNAF), with the support of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Institut national de la jeunesse et de l'éducation populaire (INJEP). Via the RECONAI platform, it receives a government grant managed by the National Research Agency under the "Investissements d'avenir" programme (ANR-11-EQPX-0038). EDEN. We acknowledge all funding sources for the EDEN study: Foundation for Medical Research (FRM), National Agency for Research (ANR), National Institute for Research in Public Health (IRESP: TGIR cohorte santé 2008 program), French Ministry of Health (DGS), French Ministry of Research, Inserm Bone and Joint Diseases National Research (PRO-A) and Human Nutrition National Research Programs, Paris–Sud University, Nestlé, French National Institute for Population Health Surveillance (InVS), French National Institute for Health Education (INPES), the European Union FP7 programmes (FP7/2007–2013, HELIX, ESCAPE, ENRIECO, MEDall projects), Diabetes National Research Program (through a collaboration with the French Association of Diabetic Patients (AFD)), French Agency for Environmental Health Safety (now ANSES), Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN), French National Agency for Food Security and the French-speaking association for the study of diabetes and metabolism (ALFEDIAM).

This article examines why center-right parties that have partly built their image around ethnic or religious identities reverse their positions to support peace arrangements. Political settlements in divided societies frequently run counter to the values of these parties and are also potentially damaging to their internal party cohesion. We argue that political learning through sustained interaction with external pro-peace allies transforms the positions of center-right parties by socializing them when it comes to their international agenda, yet the same effect is not observed in party actions within the sphere of domestic intra-communal politics. Drawing from the Cypriot and Northern Irish peace processes, we show that once these parties embrace peace agreements, they do so by balancing international and local considerations, choosing to compensate domestic constituencies on symbolic issues of less importance for the peace process yet of major significance to conservative constituencies. The study of center-right and conservative peace actors has important implications for research on mediation and international conflict since it suggests mechanisms through which policy makers can better engage with ethnic or religious parties in fragile peace processes.

Building upon the scholarly discussion concerning the growing blurring of domestic and foreign policy domains and the changing spheres of competences of states both within and outside their borders, this article focuses on inter-state cooperation in the field of migration and international relations. I attempt to answer two interrelated questions: how does collaboration on migration affect the bargaining dynamics between migrant-sending and migrant-receiving countries? And specifically, how does the contested process of externalisation of border control practices to third countries influence power relations between the two? Particular attention is paid to the agreements on migration between Italy and Libya, mainly between the late 1990s and 2009, and I examine how the putative process of externalisation of migration policies from Italy to Libya impacts upon their negotiations. I argue that this case of externalisation does not merely consist of a univocal delegation of sovereignty. Therefore I conclude that the theoretical debate is still open, both with regard to the applicability of the externalisation concept to this particular case, and to its broader representativeness. Adapted from the source document.

Building upon the scholarly discussion concerning the growing blurring of domestic and foreign policy domains and the changing spheres of competences of states both within and outside their borders, this article focuses on inter-state cooperation in the field of migration and international relations. I attempt to answer two interrelated questions: how does collaboration on migration affect the bargaining dynamics between migrant-sending and migrant-receiving countries? And specifically, how does the contested process of externalisation of border control practices to third countries influence power relations between the two? Particular attention is paid to the agreements on migration between Italy and Libya, mainly between the late 1990s and 2009, and I examine how the putative process of externalisation of migration policies from Italy to Libya impacts upon their negotiations. I argue that this case of externalisation does not merely consist of a univocal delegation of sovereignty. Therefore I conclude that the theoretical debate is still open, both with regard to the applicability of the externalisation concept to this particular case, and to its broader representativeness.

Providing an extensive historical overview of federal arbitration jurisprudence and the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), this article argues that the Supreme Court has misinterpreted FAA provisions and goals, thereby drastically changing the law of labor arbitration to the detriment of American workers and consumers. Namely, original congressional policy goals (providing speedy, fair and informal alternatives to court adjudication) have been countermanded by the Supreme Court's interpretation of arbitration law over the last 50 years. As a result, modern arbitration law sets up an imbalance of power between employers/merchants and workers/consumers who are forced into lengthy and expensive procedures before they can exercise their legal rights to sue. At the time the FAA was passed, arbitration relied on the concept of voluntary consent by both parties, but modern arbitration agreements are often not the result of voluntary consent but of a more powerful contracting party who controls the rules of the arbitration forum, thereby exerting pressure on a weaker party. Arguing against this interpretation, this article posits options available to reverse current arbitration rules, including lower court judicial defiance, legislative overrides, and the possibility of Supreme Court reversal. This article concludes by suggesting a proposal for a narrow legislative fix to the FAA that would include national standards for arbitration agreements and would define "arbitration" to avoid the current practices that conflict with fundamental arbitration attributes and goals.

This study compared outcomes over 1 year for two groups of separated parents, who attended two different forms of brief therapeutic mediation for entrenched parenting disputes. The two interventions each targeted psychological resolution of parental conflict, enhanced parental reflective function, and associated reduction of distress for their children. The child‐focused (CF) intervention actively supported parents to consider the needs of their children, but without any direct involvement of the children, while the child‐inclusive (CI) intervention incorporated separate consultation by a specialist with the children in each family, and consideration of their concerns with parents in the mediation forum. Repeated measures at baseline, 3 months, and 1 year postintervention explored changes over time and across treatments in conflict management, subjective distress, and relationship quality for all family members. Enduring reduction in levels of conflict and improved management of disputes, as reported by parents and children, occurred for both treatment groups in the year after mediation. The CI intervention had several impacts not evident in the other treatment group, related to relationship improvements and psychological well‐being. These effects were strongest for fathers and children. Agreements reached by the CI group were significantly more durable, and the parents in this group were half as likely to instigate new litigation over parenting matters in the year after mediation as were the CF parents. The article explores the potential of CI divorce mediation to not only safely include many children in family law matters related to them, but also to promote their developmental recovery from high‐conflict separation, through enhanced emotional availability of their parents.

My Copy of Poverty and Progress provides shocking evidence that we have moved far enough along in time to have the necessary perspective: the price on the jacket of this Harvard University Press original edition—hardcover—reads $5.95. There is similarly little doubt about the judgment of time, for I think there would be general agreement with the assessment offered by Michael Katz (1982) several years ago that "in the last two decades there have been two landmark books in the history of social structure, one each for Britain and the United States. Both reflect not only the talents of the author but the national/intellectual contexts as well. For Britain the book is E. P. Thompson's The Making of the English Working Class [1964]; for America it is Stephan Thernstrom's Poverty and Progress [1964]."It is thus appropriate that we honor Stephan Thernstrom on the twentieth anniversary of a slim volume on a small city, which made a disproportionately big bang. We know he understands that to the extent that our honorific twenty-one gun salute may occasionally seem to be aimed not over but at him, this is only to keep him from feeling uncomfortably like the guest at his own funeral eulogies. Whatever the mix of criticism and praise, however, I suspect that he will be amused: all of this solemn discussion devoted to what was initially only a doctoral thesis which Professor Thernstrom, if he was anything like most of us, may have had to struggle, from time to time, to take altogether seriously.

The gender pay gap (GPG) exists in every European country, but it varies considerably, even in EU member states covered by the same legal principles on pay equality. Part of the variation can be explained by different patterns of social partnership. With current policy pressure to de-centralise collective bargaining and increase the percentage of pay linked to productivity, what role can social partnership play in tackling the GPG? Reporting on the findings of the European Commission funded research project "Close the Deal, Fill the Gap", this book uses an interdisciplinary analysis involving legal, economic, and sociological expertise, to explore the role of social partnership in GPG in Italy, Poland and the UK. Selected on the basis of their contrasting profiles in terms of legal regulation, industrial relations, systems of collective bargaining, coverage of collective agreements, and differing rates of the GPG, the in-depth study provides important insights into the main issues underlying the problem of reducing the gender pay gap which have led to guidelines in the negotiation of arrangements on GPG-related issues. Based on a unique comparative, interdisciplinary and action-oriented research project, it will be of great interest to all researchers and advanced students with an interest in women's representation in the workforce and the gender pay gap, as well as practitioners and policy makers in organisations such as trade unions and employers' associations.