Sociology,risk and the environment: a material-semiotic approach

Abstract

Sociology has made significant contributions to the conceptualisation of risk and critique of technical risk analysis. It has, however, unintentionally reinforced the division of labour between the natural/technical and social sciences in risk analysis. This paper argues that the problem with conceptualisations of risk is not a misplaced emphasis on calculation. Rather, it is that we have not adequately dealt with ontological distinctions implicit in both sociological and technical work on risk between material or objective risks and our socially mediated understandings and interpretations of those risks. While acknowledging that risks are simultaneously social and technical, sociologists have not, in practice, provided the conceptual and methodological tools to apprehend risk in a less dualistic manner. This limits our ability both to analyse actors and processes outside the social domain and to explore the recursive relationships between risk calculus, social action and the material outcomes of risk. In response, this paper develops a material-semiotic conceptualisation of risk and provides an assessment of its relevance to more sociologically informed risk governance. It introduces the ideas of co-constitution, emergent entities and enactment as instruments for reconciling the material and social worlds in a sociological study of risk. It further illustrates the application of a material-semiotic approach using these concepts in the nuclear industry. In deconstructing social–material dualisms in the sociology of risk, this paper argues that a material-semiotic conceptualisation of risk enables both technical and social perspectives on risk not only to coexist but to collaborate, widening the scope for interdisciplinary research.     

高校研究生党员的先进性和纯洁性教育研究

保持党的先进性和纯洁性,是我党建设的内在要求,是马克思主义政党的本质属性。高校研究生党员保持党的先进性和纯洁性对党和国家事业的发展具有深远的意义,是历史发展的要求,是时代发展的要求。文章首先界定了研究生党员先进性和纯洁性的基本内容;其次,对高校研究生党员先进性和纯洁性教育研究的现状以及存在的问题进行了分析;最后,针对高校研究生党员先进性和纯洁性教育中存在的问题提出有效的建议和措施。     

浅析盲目城市化与畸形经济发展模式

城市化作为一个国家经济发展必经的过程,与经济增长的关系应该是相互促进的。然而在我国,不正常的经济发展模式却成为推动盲目城市化的动因之一。本文通过分析盲目城市化和畸形的经济发展模式,以期找出一条使我国城市化和经济发展协调发展之路。     

五年梦寻丰子恺--?丰子恺全集?责编手记

近几年来，社会各界兴起了一股“丰子恺热”。海豚出版社社长俞晓群成为这股热潮的最初发动者。五年来，海豚出版社出版了丰子恺著作达一百多种，将丰子恺生前几乎所有的单行本集子予以再版。同时，海豚出版社还与杭州师范大学弘一大师??丰子恺研究中心合作整理?丰子恺全集?，并将于2015年出版问世。     

Cost-effectiveness analysis of ramucirumab treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib with α-fetoprotein concentrations of at least 400 ng/ml

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of ramucirumab versus placebo for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib with α-fetoprotein concentrations (AFP) of at least 400?ng/ml in the United States.

Methods: A Markov model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of ramucirumab. Health outcomes were measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). With TreeAge software, the disease process was modeled as three health states: progression-free survival (PFS), progressive disease (PD), and death. Costs were extracted from the REACH-2 trial, and utility was derived from published literature. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated to compare ramucirumab with placebo. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were developed to examine the robustness of the results.

Results: In the base case analysis, ramucirumab therapy had a cost of $55,508.41 and generated 0.54 QALYs, while placebo therapy had a cost of $761.09 and generated 0.47 QALYs, leading to an additional $54,747.32 in costs and 0.07 QALYs. The ICER was $782,104.57 per QALY, which was much higher than the willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000 per QALY. According to sensitivity analyses, the utility of PD in the two groups was the dominant parameter influencing the ICER.

Conclusion: Although ramucirumab was associated with prolonged survival for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who progressed on sorafenib treatment with an AFP of at least 400?ng/ml, it is not a cost-effective treatment from a United States payer perspective.     

加强新时代高校宿舍舍长队伍建设,助力“00后”大学生成长成才

加强新时代高校宿舍舍长队伍建设,更有利于积极发挥高校宿舍育人阵地的作用,高校宿舍舍长在教育管理工作中的重要性不可忽视。论文提出从提高新时代宿舍舍长工作的站位、加强宿舍舍长的角色认同与培养、加强宿舍舍长管理机制的制度建设三个方面,加强高校宿舍舍长队伍的建设,助力新时代“00后”大学生的成长成才。     

高职高专院校大学生职前培训面临的问题及对策

大学生就业难已经不是一个新话题,高职高专院校的大学生在庞大的就业大军面前,竞争优势并不明显。要想提高就业能力只有加强高职高专学生的"职业"技能,与企业进行无缝对接,才能提高其与本科院校的竞争力,这就需要高职高专院校加强职前培训。本文分析当前高职高专院校职前培训存在的问题,并提出了相关解决路径,希望文中所提出的建议能对高职高专院校的职前培训环节起到一定的参考作用。     

Soros’ ’War’ on the Yuan Unlikely to Win

Billionaire investor George Soros declared a"war"against China at this year’s World Economic Forum held in Davos,Switzerland,from January 20-23,betting that Asian currencies would fall against the dollar.Due to his influence,fluctuations in the international financial market have intensified,and Asian currencies are facing increased pressure from speculative attacks.However,there is no doubt that Soros"challenge against the yuan and Hong Kong dollar is unlikely to succeed.