text:
Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents
Marià Pitarque, Alexander Vaglenov, Maria Nosko, Sonya Pavlova, Vera Petkova, Ari Hirvonen, Amadeu Creus, Hannu Norppa, Ricard Marcos
Department of Genetics and Microbiology
We examined sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MN; cytokinesis-block method) in cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 52 female workers of two shoe factories and from 36 unexposed age- and sex-matched referents. The factory workers showed an elevated level of urinary hippuric acid, a biomarker of toluene exposure, and workplace air contained high concentrations of various organic solvents such as toluene, gasoline, acetone, and (in one of the plants only) ethylacetate and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate. The shoe factory workers showed a statistically significant higher frequency of micronucleated binucleate lymphocytes in comparison with the referents. This finding agreed with three preliminary MN determinations (each comprising 27-32 shoe workers and 16-20 controls) performed in one of the plants 2-5 years earlier. The shoe factory workers also had a lower average level of blood hemoglobin than the referents. In contrast, no difference was found between the groups in SCE analysis. Smokers showed significantly higher mean frequencies of SCEs per cell and high frequency cells (HFC) than nonsmokers. Aging was associated with increased MN rates and reduced cell proliferation. Polymorphism of the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene (GSTM1) did not affect the individual level of SCEs; but in smoking shoe workers and effect of the occupational exposure on the frequency of micronucleated cells could be seen only in GSTM1 null subjects. The low prevalence of the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype precluded the evaluation of the influence of GSTT1 polymorphism. Our results show that the shoe factory workers have experienced genotoxic exposure, which is manifest as an increase in the frequency of MN, but not of SCEs, in peripheral lymphocytes. The exposures responsible for the MN induction could not be identified with certainty, but exposure to benzene in gasoline and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate may explain some of the findings.
Environmental Health Perspectives
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110399
Glutathione S-transferase M1
Glutathione S-transferase T1
Micronuclei assays
Shoe factory workers
Sister chromatid exchage assays
Solvent exposure
10.1289/ehp.02110399
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Sister Chromatid Exchange Medicine & Life Sciences
Shoes Medicine & Life Sciences
Lymphocytes Medicine & Life Sciences
glutathione S-transferase T1 Medicine & Life Sciences
glutathione S-transferase M1 Medicine & Life Sciences
Gasoline Medicine & Life Sciences
Toluene Medicine & Life Sciences
hippuric acid Medicine & Life Sciences
Pitarque, M., Vaglenov, A., Nosko, M., Pavlova, S., Petkova, V., Hirvonen, A., Creus, A., Norppa, H., & Marcos, R. (2002). Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110(4), 399-404. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110399
Pitarque, Marià ; Vaglenov, Alexander ; Nosko, Maria ; Pavlova, Sonya ; Petkova, Vera ; Hirvonen, Ari ; Creus, Amadeu ; Norppa, Hannu ; Marcos, Ricard. / Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents. In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 2002 ; Vol. 110, No. 4. pp. 399-404.
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title = "Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents",
abstract = "We examined sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MN; cytokinesis-block method) in cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 52 female workers of two shoe factories and from 36 unexposed age- and sex-matched referents. The factory workers showed an elevated level of urinary hippuric acid, a biomarker of toluene exposure, and workplace air contained high concentrations of various organic solvents such as toluene, gasoline, acetone, and (in one of the plants only) ethylacetate and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate. The shoe factory workers showed a statistically significant higher frequency of micronucleated binucleate lymphocytes in comparison with the referents. This finding agreed with three preliminary MN determinations (each comprising 27-32 shoe workers and 16-20 controls) performed in one of the plants 2-5 years earlier. The shoe factory workers also had a lower average level of blood hemoglobin than the referents. In contrast, no difference was found between the groups in SCE analysis. Smokers showed significantly higher mean frequencies of SCEs per cell and high frequency cells (HFC) than nonsmokers. Aging was associated with increased MN rates and reduced cell proliferation. Polymorphism of the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene (GSTM1) did not affect the individual level of SCEs; but in smoking shoe workers and effect of the occupational exposure on the frequency of micronucleated cells could be seen only in GSTM1 null subjects. The low prevalence of the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype precluded the evaluation of the influence of GSTT1 polymorphism. Our results show that the shoe factory workers have experienced genotoxic exposure, which is manifest as an increase in the frequency of MN, but not of SCEs, in peripheral lymphocytes. The exposures responsible for the MN induction could not be identified with certainty, but exposure to benzene in gasoline and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate may explain some of the findings.",
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author = "Mari{\`a} Pitarque and Alexander Vaglenov and Maria Nosko and Sonya Pavlova and Vera Petkova and Ari Hirvonen and Amadeu Creus and Hannu Norppa and Ricard Marcos",
doi = "10.1289/ehp.02110399",
journal = "Environmental Health Perspectives",
publisher = "Public Health Services, US Dept of Health and Human Services",
Pitarque, M, Vaglenov, A, Nosko, M, Pavlova, S, Petkova, V, Hirvonen, A, Creus, A, Norppa, H & Marcos, R 2002, 'Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents', Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 110, no. 4, pp. 399-404. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110399
Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents. / Pitarque, Marià; Vaglenov, Alexander; Nosko, Maria; Pavlova, Sonya; Petkova, Vera; Hirvonen, Ari; Creus, Amadeu; Norppa, Hannu; Marcos, Ricard.
In: Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 110, No. 4, 01.01.2002, p. 399-404.
T1 - Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents
AU - Pitarque, Marià
AU - Vaglenov, Alexander
AU - Nosko, Maria
AU - Pavlova, Sonya
AU - Petkova, Vera
AU - Hirvonen, Ari
AU - Creus, Amadeu
AU - Norppa, Hannu
AU - Marcos, Ricard
N2 - We examined sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MN; cytokinesis-block method) in cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 52 female workers of two shoe factories and from 36 unexposed age- and sex-matched referents. The factory workers showed an elevated level of urinary hippuric acid, a biomarker of toluene exposure, and workplace air contained high concentrations of various organic solvents such as toluene, gasoline, acetone, and (in one of the plants only) ethylacetate and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate. The shoe factory workers showed a statistically significant higher frequency of micronucleated binucleate lymphocytes in comparison with the referents. This finding agreed with three preliminary MN determinations (each comprising 27-32 shoe workers and 16-20 controls) performed in one of the plants 2-5 years earlier. The shoe factory workers also had a lower average level of blood hemoglobin than the referents. In contrast, no difference was found between the groups in SCE analysis. Smokers showed significantly higher mean frequencies of SCEs per cell and high frequency cells (HFC) than nonsmokers. Aging was associated with increased MN rates and reduced cell proliferation. Polymorphism of the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene (GSTM1) did not affect the individual level of SCEs; but in smoking shoe workers and effect of the occupational exposure on the frequency of micronucleated cells could be seen only in GSTM1 null subjects. The low prevalence of the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype precluded the evaluation of the influence of GSTT1 polymorphism. Our results show that the shoe factory workers have experienced genotoxic exposure, which is manifest as an increase in the frequency of MN, but not of SCEs, in peripheral lymphocytes. The exposures responsible for the MN induction could not be identified with certainty, but exposure to benzene in gasoline and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate may explain some of the findings.
AB - We examined sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MN; cytokinesis-block method) in cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 52 female workers of two shoe factories and from 36 unexposed age- and sex-matched referents. The factory workers showed an elevated level of urinary hippuric acid, a biomarker of toluene exposure, and workplace air contained high concentrations of various organic solvents such as toluene, gasoline, acetone, and (in one of the plants only) ethylacetate and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate. The shoe factory workers showed a statistically significant higher frequency of micronucleated binucleate lymphocytes in comparison with the referents. This finding agreed with three preliminary MN determinations (each comprising 27-32 shoe workers and 16-20 controls) performed in one of the plants 2-5 years earlier. The shoe factory workers also had a lower average level of blood hemoglobin than the referents. In contrast, no difference was found between the groups in SCE analysis. Smokers showed significantly higher mean frequencies of SCEs per cell and high frequency cells (HFC) than nonsmokers. Aging was associated with increased MN rates and reduced cell proliferation. Polymorphism of the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene (GSTM1) did not affect the individual level of SCEs; but in smoking shoe workers and effect of the occupational exposure on the frequency of micronucleated cells could be seen only in GSTM1 null subjects. The low prevalence of the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) null genotype precluded the evaluation of the influence of GSTT1 polymorphism. Our results show that the shoe factory workers have experienced genotoxic exposure, which is manifest as an increase in the frequency of MN, but not of SCEs, in peripheral lymphocytes. The exposures responsible for the MN induction could not be identified with certainty, but exposure to benzene in gasoline and methylenediphenyl diisocyanate may explain some of the findings.
KW - Glutathione S-transferase M1
KW - Glutathione S-transferase T1
KW - Micronuclei assays
KW - Shoe factory workers
KW - Sister chromatid exchage assays
KW - Solvent exposure
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DO - 10.1289/ehp.02110399
JO - Environmental Health Perspectives
JF - Environmental Health Perspectives
Pitarque M, Vaglenov A, Nosko M, Pavlova S, Petkova V, Hirvonen A et al. Sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in peripheral lymphocytes of shoe factory workers exposed to solvents. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2002 Jan 1;110(4):399-404. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.02110399


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Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
GeoQuEST Research Centre
GeoQuEST News
Donation of software suit for use by Earth and Environmental Science students
Students studying Earth and environmental sciences at the University of Wollongong will be able to access specialist geological software thanks to Petroleum Experts Ltd (Petex), who have donated 10 licences of the MOVE software suite. The commercial equivalence of this donation to the University of Wollongong is £1,601,839.98 (~$3 million AUD).
The MOVE package allows users to build 3D models of the subsurface and calculate how much deformation has occurred in a region (due to plate tectonic movements). One of its main uses is to model what rocks looked like before they were deformed. The software is widely used by geologists in the resources industry, but is equally applicable to those interested in mapping the subsurface to map groundwater resources and for carbon dioxide sequestration – the software will therefore be a valuable tool for students wishing to pursue careers in a range of fields.
Dr Lloyd White from UOW's School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences says "the software will be an excellent resource for undergraduate and postgraduate research".
"While the software is designed for use by the resource exploration industry, it can also simply be applied to understand more about the 3D geometry of the ground beneath our feet."
"We also plan to use the software to generate 3D geological models from data collected on GPS enabled tablets in the field"
Earth science students will be able to take advantage of the software from February 2020.
Leadership lessons from Rotheragate: The decision to head south, orca whales and smashing through the ice
In the spirit of insightful reflection, I tell the story of 'Rotheragate', an on-the-fly leadership development experience on the largest all-female expedition to Antarctica.
The setting was a journey down the Antarctic Peninsula, an inner journey toward becoming better leaders, and an epic adventure. Our goal was to reach Rothera, a British research station at 67° south, the southernmost point of the journey. On the way, we were working to heighten the influence and impact of our work as scientists through the Homeward Bound strategic leadership in science initiative. Read more...
Geological Evolution of Australia
Dynamic topography Australia (video)
Landscape evolution of Australia (video)
Plate motions and mantle structure beneath Australia (video)
Elevating our vegetation mapping capability at the Five Islands Nature Reserve
Dr Sarah Hamylton and Rafael Carvalho have teamed up with Dr Rowena Morris of the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service to map vegetation changes at Big Island in the Five Islands Nature Reserve. This is part of a long term rehabilitation project at Big Island, which sits offshore from Port Kembla Harbour and has seen radical changes to its ground cover since the 1950s (see Figure 1).
Burrowing habitat of seabirds such as Little Penguins, shearwaters and petrels on Big Island has been impacted by invasive weeds, which trap nesting seabirds and limit access to ground suitable for burrowing.
This project, partly supported by GeoQuest, maps changes to weeds such as coastal morning glory and kikuyu grass over the course of a helicopter spraying program that began in 2016. A team of researchers including Honours student Nial Roder conducted an aerial drone survey of the island in April. This mapped in detail the distribution of vegetation across the island, providing a baseline for future monitoring in relation to further rehabilitation (see Figure 2 and video).
The School of Earth and Environmental Sciences is particularly excited to set up a monitoring protocol that uses images collected with aerial drones to help determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures on Big Island over the next 10 years.
Figure 1. Changes to the ground cover of Big Island, 1947-2017 (aerial photos accessed from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences? Spatial Analysis Laboratory archive)
Figure 2. A mosaic of drone images of Big Island, acquired in April 2017 with a DJI Phantom 4 before the aerial weed spraying
Drone video of the aerial survey taking place at Big Island, April 2017 (video credit: Chris Duczynski)

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Home » Featured Article » The future of conservatism
The future of conservatism
Nicolas Webb presents his analysis of the current state of the Conservative Party and options for post-Brexit conservatism
Nicolas Webb is a public relations consultant and former Parliamentary candidate. He is on the board of the Welsh Refugee Council and the think tank Gorwel. He can be found on Twitter @ndwebb
A context of chaos
It is a mess. What was once a simmering disagreement between hard-line Eurosceptics and business-friendly internationalists is now – in "media-speak" – blue on blue rhetorical conflict. Tensions which had been more muted before the then Foreign Secretary was allowed to duck a major, but politically inconvenient, vote, are now out in the open. Wales has been at the forefront of the drama with twitter spats, disagreements being aired via the press and the implicit manoeuvres in the shadows which led to the resignation of Andrew RT Davies. Though each only holds attention for a short period until the next piece of falling Government debris hits the news cycle.
One cannot blame Labour for the Conservatives' tumult. But the lack of credible opposition has been critical in allowing Tory tribes to emerge, each seeking to yank policy in their direction with little thought for the electorate's views beyond their own membership, core vote or constituency. The theory of a divided party losing an election is irrelevant when the only two shows in town are both riven with infighting.
Labour has succumbed to an internal shift to left wing populism with policies driven by ideological purity of method rather than assessed by outcome. This inevitably narrows the audience for their message. As disagreements appear, the hard left simply dismisses party colleagues as "Blairites" or says they should "go and join the Tories", often worded less politely. Despite no confidence votes, a leadership challenge, a lost election, and more than 100 front bench resignations, it remains unclear what mechanism that party will use to return to the political mainstream. The rise of the hard left has allowed some Tories, typically those with safe seats, to revel in the nostalgia of old battles of the 1980s. This is a throwback to long-settled debates about economic monetarism and the means of production that have little relevance to modern Britain.
There is however a difference between these two dogs' dinners of political parties in that the phoenix of conservatism has a better fighting chance than that of Labour. Whereas the hard left of Labour has sought to change the party's constitution to make continuity Corbynism more likely, the Conservative Party structure – flaws and meritocratic opaqueness included – remains pretty much untouched.
The future of the Conservative Party or conservatism
The Conservative Party has repeatedly reinvented itself during its long and successful history. Typically, it has favoured pragmatic steps to improvement over the distant idealism of the left. Despite its name, the party has had moments of dramatic radicalism.
The viability of the party is not simply about policy but requires organisational reform. To the outside world, the Conservative Party is a single entity. However, that whole is made up of three elements: the elected party, the professional party, and the voluntary party. The relationship between the first and third has been strained by Brexit. The relationship between the first and second sees undue pressure from the former on the latter, creating conflicts of interest. The relationship between the second and the third is often fractious, with the membership feeling undervalued. Buck-passing is commonplace; individuals taking responsibility less so. While not exclusively a concern in Wales, we have a prime example with the question mark over who is leader of the Welsh Conservative Party. Political opponents understandably use this to attack the Tories for failing to embrace or adapt to the reality of devolution, but that is not the primary cause. It actually suits the party, as currently structured, to have an opaqueness which offers scope for plausible deniability over accountability. It should go without saying that this is not a healthy state of affairs for a party which advocates meritocracy and scrutiny in Government.
Post-2015, Labour's membership underwent a jolt to the left. The Tories did not experience such a dramatic shift, but since the 2016 referendum there has been a marked change in the relative volume and prominence of opinions. Brexit has emboldened social conservatives. This is not just at Westminster. As David Cameron once accurately noted, "Twitter isn't Britain"; but Young Conservative officers engaging in the language of culture wars on issues of migration and identity, without any obvious concern being shown by the party, is a shift from where the youth wing of the party was ten years ago.
Among the membership across the UK, a desire for Brexit, or to 'just get on with it', is very prominent. This strengthens the hand of Eurosceptic MPs and often constrains scrutiny of the Brexit process to a few MPs who serve very pro-EU constituencies. That is not to criticise Brexiteer MPs who are representing their constituents and responding to the outcome of the referendum. But it is to acknowledge the shifting patterns of influence.
With this comes a risk. The Conservative Party delivering a successful Brexit can win mass appeal. A predominantly Brexit party using the Conservative brand as a vehicle for leaving the EU would diminish its electoral appeal. That business people and social liberals have not had a plausible alternative option has, thus far, helped the Tory coalition to just about hold together. That could change.
No political party has an unquestioned right to exist forever. That is not to predict that the demise or permanent division of the Conservative Party is around the corner. But if and when such a day comes, it is likely to happen suddenly and with little warning. The speed of politics appears to have accelerated dramatically since the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Whereas a week was once a long time in politics, today a tweet can be a long time in politics.
What we can be more confident of is the continuation of conservatism in the political if not dictionary definition sense. Beneath the surface of the Brexit machinations there are signs of debate over what this future conservatism could look like, with the emergence of think tanks such as Freer, Onward and the Big Tent ideas festival.
Ever-freer markets
The stark result of the 2017 General Election and dire poll ratings for the party among young voters has led to consideration of how best to respond. Why does the globalised millennial, with their iPhone in one hand and flat white in a reusable cup in the other, opt for the protectionist tendencies which would underpin a Corbyn-led government? The desire among young people for a globalised free market economy is sound. But it is less clear that they are craving an ever-freer market. Indeed, having grown up knowing little other than the reforms of the Thatcher revolution, a market-based economy is simply seen as the starting base for policy rather than a hard-earned achievement. The term 'privatisation' has become so abused by its ideological opponents that it requires a prolonged effort to highlight its great democratising effects in providing what the people want and allowing for niche industries to cater for the needs of minority interest groups who would simply be ignored with a big state, one size fits all, approach. Yet, in highlighting the benefits of a people-powered market, Conservatives must also call out the failings of bad privatisation when it does not empower the consumer, such as in the case of railways. Getting something off the Government's books is not the same as empowering the many.
Austerity and debt interest
Economic argument was a notable absentee from the 2017 General Election. While the Conservatives still hold an edge over Labour on the credibility of their financial management, Momentum-charged Labour has rallied opposition to austerity. And the Tory response has been a limp suggestion of the mess our economy would be in under Corbyn. What is missing is any attempt to focus minds on the £1 billion per week which could be spent on public services or provide tax cuts, but that is currently lost to debt interest. Good governance requires reducing that debt interest and by doing so, more funds will be available. A Conservative process to achieve a progressive end.
There must also be proper scrutiny of the priorities of austerity. In a polarised Westminster it can be too easy for one side to demand spending and the other defend austerity, without scrutinising the decisions within a policy of the country living within its means. For example, is a reduction in police numbers a saving or a hindrance to an environment which fosters economic growth? Allowing the distortion of the debate to simply be over whether austerity is a good or bad policy in turn has constrained proper scrutiny of decision making in the Senedd. The Welsh Government has a propensity to blame Westminster rather than take responsibility for their own considerable scope of governance. Engaging in the specifics of the economics of austerity and a preparedness to highlight and correct failures would strengthen the overall Conservative case for their economic model.
Market Framework
The UK is on a trajectory of social and economic liberalism which has replaced old arguments about the means of production and the profit motive. That is not to pretend that every issue has been resolved; battles over social justice and fairer markets remain. Nonetheless the economic model of Margaret Thatcher, adopted by Tony Blair, and the social model which had its origins largely in social democracy and liberalism and was gradually merged into modern conservatism prior to a welcome acceleration under David Cameron, have, in essence, established a path ahead which may not arouse electoral enthusiasm, precisely because it has become the accepted norm.
Understanding the future of conservatism rests in adapting the age-old principles to the modern context. The market is the output from a great exercise in democracy. Responding to what people want will succeed in a way that no central planner could ever cater for. However, the state cannot be entirely hands-off either. By respecting the market and understanding the trends which underpin it, Government at national and local levels can plan to enhance the gains for the community by working with the grain. Here are some suggestions as to what a Market Framework future could look like:
Tax simplification would boost enterprise and reduce scope for avoidance, producing a fairer marketplace within clear rules.
Equality of opportunity does not occur simply by freeing people from government interference, but by tailoring their interaction with a state which understands, respects and supports their individuality.
A successful market-based solution will always require rules, regulations and state involvement. But if this is clear and non-oppressive then the small start-up can thrive and deliver innovation.
If we want cities which are clean, pleasant, sustainable, and income-generating, then the infrastructure needs to be in place: from trams to policing and from skills training to improved health outcomes. Planning can support the market rather than be seen as its enemy.
The majority want to own their home. Data tells us that homeowners are more likely to vote Conservative. A huge building programme should be second nature to the Party. As it is, successive governments have over-promised and under-delivered. Some claim that housing is an example of market failure. Yet the market doesn't have a chance to deliver due to a planning system which prioritises the views of existing residents (often championed by local politicians) over the demonstrable needs of the people who would gain from development. Yes, it must be sustainable, desirable, and have sufficient infrastructure; but those are all achievable; what needs to happen most is building. Liberalisation of planning is the minimum which should be considered. A radical approach could be government investment and direction in line with market indicators to build new homes which would be available for sale. Help to Buy allowed some a foot on the housing ladder but increased demand and did not directly tackle the failure of supply. Upfront costs would be substantial, but the long-term benefit would be a home owning society and a leap up the ladder of social mobility.
I have merely touched on ideas for this article. But what I have pitched follows the theme of a clear framework from which free people and a market economy can build. Whether the Conservatives are seeking to reinvent themselves at Westminster, or the leadership contenders in Wales are looking to deliver a new vision, there is need to present a fresh vision as to what post-Brexit conservatism will aim to achieve.
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in Featured Article, PoliticsTagged Andrew RT Davies, Austerity, Brexit, Conservative party, Economy, free market capitalism, Jeremy Corbyn, privatisation, tribalism, Welsh Conservatives, Westminster
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The lessons of Scottish Labour
Ben Gwalchmai argues that Welsh Labour must learn from Scottish Labour, before it's too late
in Featured Article, PoliticsTagged Carwyn Jones AM, Clear Red Water, Holyrood, indycurious, indyref, Labour for indyWales, Plaid Cymru, Scottish Labour, SNP, Tonia Antoniazzi, UK Labour, Welsh Labour, Westminster, Yes Cymru, Yes Scotland
6 thoughts on "The future of conservatism"
L4Wales says:
A lot is covered here so I'm not going to engage with it all. That said this was clearly a well thought through article. It would be good to see more of this from IWA.
A point worth making when it comes to engaging the youth vote is that of equity. In short, not only do those under 40 have little equity in Britain, but they hold relativity little chance of gaining any. From this the question which follows is why would someone with so little equity fight to maintain the status quo which has put them in such a place? The answer is of course is that they won't. Which leads to why so few are now supporting the Conservatives.
It's important to remember that for the average sub-40 voter, the main experience they have of British politics was the New Labour period. This was easily the longest boom of their lifetimes. Out of the tired cinders of Tory rule – which decimated public services – there was a brief spark where everything really did get better. While it ended in a global crisis, nobody with any sense would lay the blame for that at the door of the UK Government. Indeed as time has gone by, the choices of Brown and the return to growth before Tories got back into power, has only reflected better on Labour's economic record. Since the Cameron government we have witnessed the decline of Britain from those successes. And nothing symbolizes British decline as effectively as Brexit. Something which, if nothing else, will end the Tories' reputation on the economy as effectively as Iraq did for Blair's record on international relations*.
So taken together all the under-40s know is improvements under Labour and decline under the Conservatives. If the Tories want to change that their only choice is to back out of Brexit. Tinkering with further liberalization and tax laws will not break through this haze.
*Pound to a penny in 10 years time Brexit will be just like Iraq in that despite there being a small majority in favor of it at the time, you'll struggle to find anyone willing to admit they supported it.
Edeyrn says:
I thought this was meant to be a blog specifically to Wales and yet I read almost nothing relating to Wales especially.
Secondly, although I do not vote Labour in Wales, your claim that Labour is "hard left" is simply risible.
Corbyn's policies would have be deemed soft left at best back in the 1950s and 1960s. Remember Eden built social housing and was happy with certain things being nationalised. Do not let neo-liberal thatcherism give you a blind spot to much older histories
Blodwen says:
I wonder what is meant by the sentence "The Conservative Party delivering a successful Brexit can win mass appeal"?
How does one define a 'successful Brexit'? One in which GDP falls by less than 5%? One in which fewer than a thousand people die because of medicine shortages? One in which the food riots only lead to a few casualties? One which allows leading Brexiteers to travel abroad to visit their money on a blue-coloured passport?
Even if a Brexit reaches these criteria of 'success', how does it do Wales any good?
jon owen jones says:
I do hope the editors to not adhere to Edyrn`s advice and require contributors to write about subjects that relate specifically to Wales. To paraphrase What of Wales do they know ; who only Wales know. Mr Webb has written a thoughtful article and the only criticism I can make is that it neglects to present the international context. Brexit, Trump, Corbyn and the nationalist right in Eastern Europe are all separate phenomenon but they are also responses to the same global events.
CapM says:
"when the only two shows in town are both riven with infighting."
Whether or not you'd describe it as being riven with infighting as well, in Cymru we have three shows in town. However much the traditional knock about duo would like it to be otherwise.
I picked up the thread of blame culture woven through the article. Two examples
"One cannot blame Labour for the Conservatives' tumult." immediately following with "But the lack of credible opposition has been critical in allowing Tory tribes to emerge, …."
I don't think so. What has been critical is the decades old existence of pro and anti EU tribes in the Tory party and the referendum and it's result exposed that and also exposed how shockingly deep and different their respective views of what the UK is and should be .
"Yet the [housing]market doesn't have a chance to deliver due to a planning system which prioritises the views of existing residents (often championed by local politicians) over the demonstrable needs of the people who would gain from development."
The system in the UK works well for house owners and not well for home owners. They are not the same thing as it's possible to own many houses but for usual circumstances only one home.
Whether more houses are built or not, in order to tip the balance in favour of HOME owners and sustain it in the long term owning HOUSES needs to be made less financially attractive than it is now. And that really boils down to taxing what's owned. Too much of a leap. Ironically there's always those dratted ("more likely to vote Conservative") home owning Nimbys to blame.
Philip Hughes says:
Blodwen
I agree with what you say. Brexitters behave like religious zealots and are incapable of listening to the experts, the business leaders with experience. When Airbus, the car industry and banks issue warnings it's still being shouted down as "project fear". "Project fear" is anything that doesn't contradict Brexitters vision of the UK turning the commonwealth into the Empire 2.0.
Now many of Brexits predictions have come true so far? The day after Brexit did the UK do a deal with the Germans, No. But Brexitters said we would before the referendum. Within a year of the referendum was the UK at the head of a trading network that would blow the EU away, No. But Brexitters said we would before the referendum. etc, etc, etc.
Have the commonwealth countries lined up to do trade deals with the UK, No. Australia and New Zealand, the two countries Brexitters hoped would form the nucleus of Empire 2.0, have both lodged complaints with the WTO about the UKs quota split with the EU. When the UK reapplies for WTO membership, any of the 160+ countries of the WTO can block us. All 160+ countries of the WTO have to agree before we are allowed to trade under the WTO. Sorry to labour that point but it's very important and extremely serious. Australia and New Zealand have already lodged complaints with the WTO about the UK.
For Brexitters that is not "project fear", it is a fact, google it please, this stuff is serious.
In April next year the UK could be the only country without any trade deals and not in the WTO, and they are still stuffing their fingers in their ears seeing it has a golden opportunity. You couldn't make this stuff up.


Each spring families, friends and anglers embark on an annual pilgrimage to the lowland lake trout opener at Central Washington's Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area. Campers, trailers, tents, boats and bank anglers line these lakes in anticipation of catching trout. I myself have not missed an opening day since I was a young boy some 30 years ago. For my family it is more about tradition and togetherness than anything else. If we fill the cooler with a bunch of feisty 12-14 inch red meat, tasty Rainbows it's an added bonus.
Shallow in comparison to other lakes, and with weeds growing from shoreline out into the water, Burke and Quincy Lake are the most popular. They are narrow and stretch a few miles through rocks and sagebrush. Success comes to those finding an open slot in the weed growth where you can comfortably land these fish without getting them tangled in the brush.
While some struggle here, having the right tackle and setup paves the way for an enjoyable day for kids and adults. Last time my family and I fished Quincy Lake we started at daylight and instantly started catching trout, finishing three hours later with 25 fat 12-14 inch rainbows. However, only one fish was landed among the 15 other anglers near us. As the stares and questions started pouring in, I decided to put on an impromptu seminar to try and teach these nice people what we were doing so much different than them. As I said before, this is a simple fishery in thought, but there are a few things that separate people from limits and just an occasional hit.
Bait selection is important. I've found that they're only two choices for these early season cold water trout: dough bait or eggs. In my tackle box you will find a wide assortment of Pautzke's Fire Bait. My favorite flavors are salmon/garlic, but day-to-day sometimes the trout want different flavors and colors. You will also find Balls O Fire salmon eggs and an assortment of mini colored marshmallows.
Fire Bait is what we start our day and season off with, but as these fish slow on the bite due to seeing every color and flavor dough bait in the world, I switch it up to and old school favorite, Pautzke Eggs/marshmallow combo and continue catching. For me it isn't good enough to put a blob of Fire Bait on my hook and throw it out. This is where this simple fishery becomes technical.
Keep in mind, the weeds in these lakes extend out into the water and become a bait removing annoyance. These trout have became masters of removing dough bait from a hook without a bump. This can be especially hard for young kids. With these two things in mind, I stole an idea from some of the other Pautzke pro staffer by portioning out the Fire Bait into balls larger enough to float my hook and leader. Then I wrap the bait balls in roe wrap and cinch them closed with either a rubber band or my egg loop on my hook. This method keeps the bait from falling off as easy during casting and retrieving and makes the fish have to work harder to remove it from the hook.
When it comes to my Pautzke egg/marshmallow combo, I thread a colored marshmallow up the hook carefully trying not to tear it and then place 2-3 Pautzke eggs on the hook before sliding the marshmallow back down about an inch above my hook. I also add scent, namely Liquid Krill or Pautzke Nectar to my baits.
Bait placement is important and is effected by the weeds. Being narrow lakes, there's a line between casting too far and not far enough. Weed growth can be different depending on where you fish. It isn't good enough to just throw to the middle or as far as you can. It's important to dial in your casts so when you retrieve you don't have a mess of weeds and grass covering your bait and leader.
If you are picking up weeds, adjust your cast farther, or shorter, until you find the most open part of the lake where you are fishing. Another point to go along with this is when you find open water with less weed growth the fish are normally schooled and searching for food. Instead of the occasional bite, you are more likely to have hit after hit.
Having the right tackle is important. Use a lighter action rod with a fast action tip. Oftentimes, these are soft biters. It's nice to feel the slightest of strikes. I use a rod at least 7′ long, which allows for longer casts if needed and also a better hook sets. I use a spinning reel with light line and a small diameter. This allows me to feel strikes easier, cast farther and also wont spook the fish as easily.
A basic slip rigging works best. I begin by running a 1/4 ounce slip sinker up my line followed by a small bead. The bead keeps the sinker from wearing out your knot. After applying a swivel, I like to run a three-foot leader of 4-pound monofilament to a size 4 wide gaped hook. Adjustments of leader length should also be made if the weeds call for it.
The last thing I would like to touch on is enjoyment. These lakes are far from a trophy fishery. Occasionally, we see holdover trout larger than four pounds, but not often. These put and take lakes are all about getting family and friends out on the water to enjoy time together.
Even though by this time of year I'm chomping at the bit to chase monster Chinook, I can't overlook these lakes in the early spring. Seeing all the smiling faces and hearing the laughs of kids, old timers, women and men alike takes me back to my childhood. It brings back memories of waking up opening morning and heading to the lake with my Grandpa with poles in hand, a jar of Pautzke Eggs in my pocket and the excitement of that first bite! If you get a chance make the time to get together with people and hit up these great fisheries. You wont regret it.
Editor's Note: Sam Baird operates Slammin Salmon Guide Service in the greater Wenatchee area. For more info on his trips please visit http://www.slamminsalmonguideservice.com/.


Learning from Life: Have I done any good in the world today?
I'm back... I went to Amy and John's for the weekend while Jeff was out of town. I thought I would be able to write every night in my blog while I was there, but I stayed so busy with the girls ... that I just went right to bed at night pretty beat ( this grandparent stuff isn't for sissys you know :).
It is late tonight too, and we just got home and trying to unpack. So I have decided to tell you about my fun weekend ...tomorrow ...since there is so much to tell!
"I had such a humbling experience volunteering to clean up and gut homes in Wimberely that were flooded. So devastating."
"Thanks to The Red Cross who provided today's lunch. I couldn't believe how many organizations and local restaurants donated meals and snacks for the volunteers. So neat to see all the help"
"Water made it about 4ft up the walls so we had to completely remove all the drywall and insulation to the ceiling."
After talking to him, it made me think of a song that I have heard all my life called... Have I done any good in the world today? Here is a music video of a couple of popular artists singing it. It is very touching and a very appropriate question for all of us to ask ourselves each day.


"All growth is a leap in the dark, a spontaneous unpremeditated act without benefit of experience"
Do something different - take a risk. Fear of failure limits your perspective, and you are less aware of what is available. it also inhibits your intuitive ability and keeps you from realizing that limits can be dissolved. You can develop the ability to see beyond your current limits when you take a risk and follow your passion. If you are feeling stuck, do something completely different or new and go after a dream you might have allowed to get buried. That is the way to achieve growth, new insight and to acquire the motivation to take inspired action.


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Q: how we can update child datalist's options which is present inside div? I am new on jquery , I am not understanding what I am doing wrong . I want append and delete options of datalist. datalist is present inside in div please see my code :
<input type="text" id="deloption" name="deloption" style="margin-bottom:8px;padding:3px;width:100px;" placeholder="del Options">
<input type="text" id="addoption" name="addoption" style="margin-bottom:8px;padding:3px;width:100px;" placeholder="Add Options">

<input type="text" name="example" list="exampleList">
<datalist id="exampleList">
    <option value="A">
    <option value="B">
</datalist>

jquery code :
for add an option :
$('#'+Gid).children()[1].append("<option value='" + document.getElementById("addoption").value + "'>");

for del an option :
$('#'+Gid).children().find("datalist option[value="+document.getElementById('deloption').value+"]").remove();

Gid is dynamic id of div . there will be no. of div's .

A: I would recommend to create an option like so:
var myDatalist = document.getElementById("exampleList");
myDatalist.add(new Option(text,value));

and then remove it like so:
$("#exampleList option[value="value"]).remove();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In EJB 3.0, your bean's interfaces are not required to extend any specific set of interfaces and generally have no requirements on them at all. These are referred to in EJB spec lingo as Business Interfaces.
In EJB 2.1 and prior, however, there were some pretty strict requirements on interfaces. Namely, you had to have a "home" interface that extended javax.ejb.EJBHome or javax.ejb.EJBLocalHome. This interface served as a sort of factory to create your bean's interface which itself had to extend either javax.ejb.EJBObject or javax.ejb.EJBLocalObject. These legacy styles of interfaces in EJB spec lingo are referred to as Component Interfaces.
In this example we see how one can support both business interfaces and component interfaces on the same bean. You may choose to do this for backwards compatibility with older clients or to maintain an older EJB 2.x API still being used. The advantage is that you can turn EJB 2.1 beans into EJB 3.0 beans without having to update any code consuming that EJB.
// in the bean class again is not really required.
// These interfaces, however, must be annotated here in the bean class.
// Use of @RemoteHome in the FriendlyPersonEjbHome class itself is not allowed.
// Use of @LocalHome in the FriendlyPersonEjbLocalHome class itself is also not allowed.
INFO - Enterprise application "/Users/dblevins/examples/component-interfaces" loaded.