Distinct Values Research Articles

Leading Different Generational Cohorts in the Workplace: Focus on Situational and Inclusive Leadership

Five distinct generational cohorts, from the Silent Generation (born 1920s-1940s) to Generation Z (born 1996-2010s), are active in the workforce. These cohorts are defined by shared characteristics shaped by pivotal historical events influencing their worldviews and work behaviors. Each generation presents unique challenges due to differing values, expectations, and workplace norms. Effective organizational leaders must adeptly navigate these intergenerational dynamics. This paper (1) delineates the distinct characteristics, values, and motivations of each generational cohort; (2) conceptualizes situational and inclusive leadership approaches as preferred styles of leading a multi-generational workforce; and (3) suggests the Integrated Situational and Inclusive Leadership Framework that provides insights and actionable strategies for adaptive leadership that meet the diverse needs of these generational groups.

Ending a special relationship: Toward an ethics of divorce

Abstract Romantic partnerships are typically among the most important goods in our lives. But love sometime ends, and so too do relationships. Divorcing partners are particularly vulnerable to being wronged and harmed. The aim of this paper is to develop an ethics of divorce, by establishing that divorce is a condition for the possibility of the distinct value of romantic partnerships. Different sets of rights are specified here: the divorcee's right to explanation, the right to participation and the right to transitional goods; and the divorcer's right to relational freedom. Violations of these rights indicate the distinct wrongs and harms of divorce. The paper then explains the corresponding duties in divorce that might avoid these wrongs and mitigate these harms, and highlights the distinct status of these duties: while they continue to be special, they are residual duties grounded in the fact that the partners once committed to their partnership.

National Identities, Migration Histories and Attitudes to Independence in Scotland

This article uses data from the 2021 Scottish Election Study to apply both established and relatively rare or unique approaches to understanding the interrelationships between personal national identities, attitudes regarding the (Scottish) nation and independence, and people's own/family migration histories. Analysis broadly substantiates previous research in Scotland on the effects of birthplace, parentage and length of residence on national identities, and similarly highlights that previously established ‘non-alignment’ between national identities and position on Scottish independence extends to how the latter is associated with personal and family migration histories. The paper also makes at least three distinctive contributions. First, it highlights the significance of socialisation in Scotland, particularly in early childhood, for migrants’ personal national identities and attitudes to Scottish nationhood and independence. Second, it suggests only limited variation in the degree to which personal biographical characteristics are associated with perceptions that Scotland has distinct values compared to other parts of the UK. Third, it demonstrates that social connections to England via birthplace, family and/or prior residence do not invariably affect national identities and attitudes to Scottish independence, but that those with the strongest associations to England are substantially less likely to prioritise a Scottish identity or support Scottish independence.

Transition metals tailoring of phosphorus-doped gallium nitride nanotubes as sensors for N-butenyl homoserine lactone (BHL): A computational study

This investigation is focused on the impact of transition metals (Ag, Au, and Cu) encapsulations of phosphorus-doped gallium nitride nanotubes (P@GaNNTs) to achieve precise detection and sensing of N-Butenyl homoserine lactone (BHL), which is a biomarker for urinary tract infection, within the framework of density functional theory (DFT) computation at the B3LYP-D3(BJ)/def2SVP method. Adsorption studies unveil the adsorption energies for BHL detection across the systems, with BHL_Cu_P@GaNNT displaying the most favorable adsorption energy of −1.79247 eV and BSSE correction (−1.7685 eV). Additionally, sensor mechanisms are elucidated through Fermi energy level (EFL) calculations, revealing distinct values of 4.748, 4.242, 5.052, and 3.864 for BHL_Ag_P@GaNNT, BHL_Au_P@GaNNT, BHL_Cu_P@GaNNT, and BHL_P@GaNNT, respectively. These values signify variances in charge transfer dynamics upon BHL interaction. In essence, this study lays the foundation for the development of highly efficient biosensors with exceptional biomarker detection capabilities, particularly in the context of urinary tract infections (UTIs). It opens new avenues in the realm of biosensing technology, promising innovative solutions for healthcare and diagnostics.

Biomolecular analysis of the Epigravettian human remains from Riparo Tagliente in northern Italy

The Epigravettian human remains from Riparo Tagliente in northern Italy represent some of the earliest evidence of human occupation in the southern Alpine slopes after the Last Glacial Maximum. Genomic analyses of the 17,000-year-old Tagliente 2 mandible revealed the oldest presence of a genetic profile with affinities to the Near East in the Italian peninsula, which later became the most widespread hunter-gatherer ancestry across Europe. However, a comparable biomolecular characterization of the Tagliente 1 burial remains unavailable, preventing us from defining its biological relationships with Tagliente 2. Here, we apply paleogenomic, isotopic, and radiocarbon dating analyses on a femur fragment of Tagliente 1 and compare the reconstructed data with previously reported results from Tagliente 2. Despite their different isotopic signatures and non-overlapping radiocarbon dates, we reveal that the two human remains belong to the same male individual. We determine that the distinct isotopic values can be explained by different dietary practices during lifetime, whereas the non-overlapping radiocarbon dates can be caused by minimal radiocarbon contamination, possibly deriving from chemical treatments for conservation purposes. These findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary biomolecular studies in offering new perspectives on the Palaeolithic fossil record and addressing long-standing bioarchaeological questions.

Integrating Diffusion-weighted and Perfusion-weighted Imaging for Improved Grading and Characterization of Brain Tumors

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the role of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Perfusion-Weighted Imaging (PWI) in the detection, characterization, and grading of brain tumors, focusing on their correlation with histopathological findings. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 patients with intracranial mass lesions underwent DWI, PWI, and conventional MRI using a 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values were calculated for tumor core, peritumoral edema, and normal brain tissue. Cerebral Blood Volume (CBV), Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF), and Mean Transit Time (MTT) were analyzed using PWI. Data were statistically analyzed, with a p-value ≤ 0.05 considered significant. Results: The study included 38 neoplastic lesions and 2 tuberculomas. DWI showed distinct ADC values for different tumors, with meningiomas having a mean ADC of 0.84 ± 0.3 × 10⁻³ mm²/s and schwannomas a higher ADC of 2.14 × 10⁻³ mm²/s. PWI revealed elevated relative CBV in high-grade gliomas (mean: 2.1 ± 0.76), while lower rCBV was observed in metastases (mean: 0.5 ± 0.26). Tuberculomas exhibited intermediate perfusion characteristics. Conclusion: DWI and PWI, in conjunction with conventional MRI, enhance the diagnostic accuracy for brain tumors by providing valuable information on tumor cellularity and vascularity. These techniques aid in distinguishing between tumor types, grades, and associated edema, thus improving clinical decision-making and treatment planning.

The paradigm of possibilities leading to the formation of autoimmune and infectious phenotypes of common variable immune deficiency

The term variable in the definition of CVID is associated with the heterogeneity of the genetic nature and clinical manifestation of this variant of PI. Deciphering of the mechanisms or identifying biomarkers of clinical heterogeneity may be important in the timely diagnosis and prognosis of the course of CVID. The purpose of the study was to identify distinctive features in the parameters of the innate and adaptive immune response of the patients with infectious and autoimmune manifestations of CVID in remission and clinical manifestation. Fifteen patients, 11 women and 4 men with an average age 39.7±11.7 years were examined, and they were divided into two subgroups depending on clinical verification: infectious phenotype (10 people) and autoimmune phenotype (5 people). In the absence of clinical signs of activation of autoimmune pathology or exacerbation of chronic infectious processes, peripheral blood monocytes became the application point of distinctive values. An increase in the number of TLR9-expressing monocytes has been shown in patients with autoimmune clinical verification of CVID. The differences in the parameters of the immune status of patients conducted during the period of clinical manifestation consisted of a decrease in the relative content and absolute number of T regulatory lymphocytes, and an increase in the number of monocytes containing TLR9, TLR2 and HLA-DR in patients with an autoimmune phenotype relative to the subgroup with infectious manifestation. The data obtained reflect the involvement of the immunoregulatory potential of the immune system in the clinical manifestation of primary immunodeficiency, even under the conditions of pathogenetic substitution therapy. The evidence of the stated position is a decrease in immunosuppression in autoimmune manifestation due to a decrease in the number of peripheral T-regulatory cells and a smaller proportion of monocyte cells belonging to the M2 suppressive category. Attention is also drawn to the increased potential of primary response to patterns of various nature in autoimmune manifestation due to an increase in the number of monocytes expressing Toll-like receptors of various specificity. The presented results can be proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator of the difference in clinical phenotypes of CVID.

A Novel BiOBr/CAU-17 Composite with Enhanced Photo-Catalytic Performance for Dye Degradation and Removal of Tetracycline Antibiotic Under Visible Light.

In order to improve the low specific surface area and high recombinant light generation carriers of BiOBr, loading BiOBr onto suitable Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) is an effective strategy to unleash its efficient visible light response and intrinsic catalytic activity. In this study, using classic MOF CAU-17 as a precursor, using a straightforward co-precipitation technique, four BiOBr/CAU-17 composites with distinct MOF contents values BCAU-1, BCAU-2, BC, AU-3, and BCAU-4 were created, and their photo-catalytic characteristics were examined. The BCAU-2 composite exhibited much higher photo-catalytic degradation efficiency for Rhodamine B (RhB) and Tetracycline (TC) than the pristine materials, counter compositions, and early reported materials. XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and EDX results revealed the strong synergistic photo-catalytic effect of BiOBr and CAU-17. The photocatalytic degradation of TC was significantly enhanced by the BiOBr bimetal modification, with the 2 wt.% BiOBr/CAU-17 nanocomposite achieving an 87.2 % degradation of TC and 82 % Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal within 60 min. The high photo-degradation efficiency of BCAU-2 composite should be attributed to the efficient transfer of photo-generated carriers at interfaces and the synergistic effect between BiOBr/CAU-17. Furthermore, the experiments on the capture of the active species proved that the main active free radicals involved in the degradation of RhB and TC are attributed to the photo-induced holes h+ and ⋅ O2 - under visible light. The catalyst's efficacy is corroborated by the outcomes of photoluminescence spectroscopy and photo current response. This study offers a new understanding for the design of green synthesis schemes for photo-catalytic dye degradation and removal of certain antibiotics from the aquatic environment.

Association of biofilm and microbial metrics with healing rate in older adults with chronic venous leg ulcers.

The presence of microbial biofilms in many human chronic wounds led to the hypothesis that biofilms delay healing of these wounds. We tested this hypothesis in a population of 117 older individuals with venous leg ulcers who were receiving standardised therapy, including frequent debridement. Debridement specimens were analysed for the amount of bacterial biomass by two independent methods: a microscopic approach that scored the relative size and number of bacterial aggregates, interpreted as a biofilm metric, and conventional enumeration by agar plating for viable bacteria. The plating protocol yielded three distinct values: the total viable bacterial count, bleach-tolerant bacteria, and the log reduction in viable bacteria upon bleach treatment. Wound healing rates over an 8-week observation period were calculated as the rate of decrease of the equivalent diameter of the wound. There was no statistically significant association between wound healing and the biofilm metric in any of the three analyses performed (p ≥0.15). In all three statistical tests, wound healing was associated with the log reduction caused by bleach treatment (p ≤0.004); wounds that harboured bacteria that were more bleach-susceptible healed more slowly. A refinement of the model of chronic wound infection pathogenesis is proposed in which dormant bacteria constitute a persistent nidus and outgrowth of metabolically active cells impairs healing. This model constitutes a new hypothesis as metabolic activity was not directly measured in this investigation.

The Battle of the Equations: A Systematic Review of Jump Height Calculations Using Force Platforms.

Vertical jump height measures our ability to oppose gravity and lower body neuromuscular function in athletes and various clinical populations. Vertical jump tests are principally simple, time-efficient, and extensively used for assessing athletes and generally in sport science research. Using the force platform for jump height estimates is increasingly popular owing to technological advancements and its relative ease of use in diverse settings. However, ground reaction force data can be analyzed in multiple ways to estimate jump height, leading to distinct outcome values from the same jump. In the literature, four equations have been commonly described for estimating jump height using the force platform, where jump height can vary by up to 15cm when these equations are used on the same jump. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of the equations according to the intended use. Considerations of (i) the jump type, (ii) the reason for testing, and (iii) the definition of jump height should ideally determine which equation to apply. The different jump height equations can lead to confusion and inappropriate comparisons of jump heights. Considering the popularity of reporting jump height results, both in the literature and in practice, there is a significant need to understand how the different mathematical approaches influence jump height. This review aims to investigate how different equations affect the assessment of jump height using force platforms across various jump types, such as countermovement jumps, squat jumps, drop jumps, and loaded jumps.

Adolescent psychosocial identity development associated with traditional rituals and rites of passage in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana

ABSTRACT This paper reports on a study that explored how adolescents in the Bosomtwe District of Ghana experience their psychosocial identity development in relation to participating in traditional rituals and rites of passage. This study employed a phenomenology case study design with a purposive sampling procedure. Data was gathered from focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic content analysis. The participants were 20 adolescent learners in the focus groups, and 12 teachers, 12 parents and eight adolescents in individual interviews. The study found that adolescents undergo psychosocial identity development due to participating in ritualisation processes in a variety of ways. According to the study’s findings, initiation activities exposed adolescents to distinct cultural values, aided them in developing a larger worldview, enhanced self-awareness, and improved social skills. On the other hand, not all adolescents had favourable experiences with their traditional rituals and rites of passage. Furthermore, traditional practices may perpetuate negative gender stereotypes, and discriminatory actions and behaviour. We recommend collaborating with guidance counsellors, parents and guardians, community members, and leaders when providing counselling services to adolescents We also recommend policy development to encourage integrating traditional practices in formal schooling.

The Influence of Dew Retting on the Mechanical Properties of Single Flax Fibers Measured Using Micromechanical and Nanomechanical Approaches

The mechanical properties of single flax fibers are characterized here as a function of dew retting. The fibers are measured using micromechanical and nanomechanical techniques over a large retting period (91 days). Damage-free single flax fibers in various stages of dew retting were manually extracted from retted flax plant stems. The flexural modulus and strength of the flax fibers were determined using micromechanical methods. The effective modulus of the outer surface of the single fibers was measured using AFM-based nanoindentation. The micromechanical methods revealed that the flexural modulus and strength of the manually extracted single fibers does not vary significantly as the retting progresses. The micromechanical methods revealed two distinct values of flexural strength in the fibers attributed to different failure modes. The values of these strengths do not vary significantly with retting or over-retting. The nanomechanical methods revealed that the effective modulus of the outer surface of the single fibers does evolve with retting. The physical/chemical origin of these observations remains to be established and could be the objective of future work.

Optimal Illumination Distance Metrics for Person Re-identification in Complex Lighting Conditions

Person Re-identification is extensively applied in public security and surveillance. However, environmental factors like time and location often lead to varying lighting conditions in captured pedestrian images, significantly impacting identification accuracy. Current approaches mitigate this issue through lighting transformation techniques, aiming to normalize images to a standard lighting condition for consistent person re-identification results. Yet, these methods overlook the fact that different content may hold distinct identification values under diverse lighting conditions. To address this, we conducted an analysis on the identification distance between images of the same or different pedestrians under predefined lighting conditions. From this analysis, we introduce the concept of optimal lighting: a condition where the distance between image pairs is minimized compared to other lighting scenarios. We propose utilizing this optimal lighting distance in the image retrieval process for final ranking. Our study, validated on synthetic datasets Market-IA and Duke-IA, demonstrates that optimal lighting is independent of image texture information. Each image pair exhibits a unique optimal lighting, yet consistently shows a minimum distance value.

Factors Affecting the Creation of added Value for the Processing of Cinnamon Products of the People in Nambak District, Luang Prabang Province

In this Research aim to study the situation of creating added value by transforming cinnamon into cinnamon products, the factors that affect the creation of added value by transforming cinnamon into cinnamon products and the development direction in creating added value by transforming cinnamon into cinnamon products of the people of Nambak District, Luang Prabang Province. which uses qualitative and quantitative study methods using questionnaires from a sample group of 174 people. Then bring the data to analyze and organize the data in order to find descriptive statistics and reference statistics using SPSS version 22.0 program to analyze the data, the data as a result of the study as follows: 1) The result were situation of creating added value by transforming cinnamon into a cinnamon product. Most of the workers used in the production of cinnamon are family members. Most of the packing and labeling do not have a logo. Cinnamon sticks are different from others because they have sesame seeds or many other products. Raw cinnamon is collected by ourselves. In one year, we can produce enough cinnamon sticks to meet the needs of customers. Cinnamon sticks are not advertised. Most of the production and distribution of cinnamon sticks is in the form of self-production and self-sale, producing more than 11,000 cinnamon sticks per year, the customers who come to buy cinnamon sticks are domestic tourists, the problem of producing cinnamon sticks is that there are no raw materials as needed. 2) Factors that affect the creation of added value for the processing of cinnamon products of the people of Nambak District, Luang Prabang Province, it was found that there are 4 factors that affect the entrepreneurial, capital and the aspect of creating added value with Brand with statistical significance. 3) The way to create added value is to have promotions and provide more information or get back when the customer is not satisfied and to create a brand that is trustworthy, memorable, should have a story and repeated purchases from consumers, should consider raw materials by selecting local raw materials that have a story and a distinctive difference and value, should focus on premium and increased demand so as to produce more cinnamon sticks.

Niche filling predicts evolutionary trajectories in insular bird communities

Abstract Different theories have been proposed to explain the phenotypic changes observed in island lineages, but it remains unclear if predictable evolutionary trajectories can be identified within island communities. Using a 3D functional space approach, we tested whether insular endemic species tend to evolve towards apparent holes in niche space (expecting niche filling) or tend to become generalists, that is, moving towards the centre of the functional space (expecting niche expansion). We tested these two hypotheses in 378 insular endemic species from 24 islands of 8 archipelagos, including 177 prehistoric anthropogenically extinct species. Analyses were conducted with and without accounting for species size difference. We found that 57% of island endemic species evolved towards more unoccupied regions of the global morphospace (i.e. more distinct body sizes compared to the ones of their ancestors), suggesting a tendency for niche filling. When adjusted traits for body size, we found that half of the endemic species (50%) showed more distinct trait values than their ancestors. Results also revealed that certain dietary niches (terrestrial herbivores and nectarivores) evolved distinct body sizes more frequently. Differences noted between islands and archipelagos suggest that biogeographic factors may influence evolutionary trajectory and interactions between these two hypotheses. Our study confirms that extinct species occupied specific niches that have been left vacant, suggesting that these evolutionary ‘oddities’ could be more sensitive to extinction. Overall, it calls for a global assessment of the avian functional diversity lost from recent extinctions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Revisiting education for co-operatives: Exploring the value of signature pedagogies

Educational practices have always played an important role in developing approaches that reflect the plurality of forms of co-operative organisations. Arguably, education is fundamental to the endurance of the co-operative movement. While these practices are intended to reproduce the unique knowledge and social structures that inform co-operatives, they may not always reflect the intrinsic and distinctive values of the co-operative principles. In fact, inappropriate educational practices have had the effect of weakening the co-operative movement by perpetuating a mindset that fosters social and economic inequities. I explore key constructs from education theory and their relevance to pedagogical practices that are intended to support education for co-operatives. In this paper, I argue that education for co-operatives could benefit greatly from identifying and developing signature pedagogies.

What motivates U.S. restaurant customers to choose plant-based meat alternative dishes?

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to examine how different consumption values influence consumer intentions to choose a dish featuring plant-based meat alternatives at a restaurant by applying the theory of consumption values. The present study also investigates the mediating role of attitude in the relationships between values and consumer intentions. Responses were collected through the Qualtrics panel service and structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. The results, based on a total of 682 usable panel responses, indicate that emotional and epistemic values acted as significant driving forces, directly promoting consumers’ intention. Attitude was aroused by distinctive, functional, emotional, and conditional values and in turn, significantly impacted intention. Furthermore, it was found that attitude fully mediated the relationship between conditional value and intention. The results offer useful implications for restaurants that offer menus with plant-based meat alternatives.

Experimental and numerical investigation of the thermal - hydraulic performance of flow inside helical coil elliptic tubes

Helical coil tubes are essential in a variety of engineering applications due to their improved heat transfer and compact shape. The current study presents an experimental and numerical investigation of geometrical optimization for helical coil elliptic tubes. Four distinct coil pitch values are examined with a constant perimeter for all geometries and three aspect ratio values (1, 0.75, 0.5) utilizing water as the working fluid across varying the volume flow rates. The helical coil has the same surface area as the tube for each coil. The numerical simulation is conducted using the ANSYS FLUENT CFD software (Version 19.2). The experimental and numerical results indicate that the increase in heat transfer due to an increase in mass flow rate is significantly greater than the improvement gained by changing the aspect ratios. Increasing the volume flow rate to 3 L/min significantly improves the average heat transfer coefficient, with a 66.6 % increase found at a maximum coil pitch of 0.08 m and an aspect ratio of 0.5. Furthermore, a helical coil with an aspect ratio of one (circular cross-section) exhibits the best compromise between pressure drop penalty and heat transfer enhancement, resulting in the greatest hydraulic thermal performance parameter.

B-217 Effective Diagnostic Platform and Method to Differentiate the Infectious From Non-Infectious Viruses With Nucleic Acid Detection Workflow

Abstract Background While qPCR has demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, and ability to deliver reliable quantitative data in clinical samples, such results do not differentiate between infectious and non-infectious viral particles. In view of the principle of the qPCR method itself, the amplification detects the nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) of the virus, not the virus itself. In many cases, it is still possible to detect DNA/RNA fragments from dead viruses in recovered patients, while they are not infectious anymore. This will lead to prolonged quarantine period or treatment for the patients, which could cause great psychological pressure to the patients and increased healthcare burden. Therefore, an effective detection method that can discriminate viable and inviable pathogens is of great significance. Methods SARS-CoV2 viral RNA, SARS-CoV-2 viruses, or clinical samples with SARS-CoV2 infection were diluted in Delta MTM (Molecular Transport Media) to the respective testing concentrations. The samples were incubated with intercalating dye (PMAxx 100nM) with or without Triton X-100 for 10 min. The mixture was then exposed to the photo-activation device for 5-15 min (@ temperature below 37° C). The samples were then subjected to the standard nucleic acid extraction & purification steps with Qiagen viral RNA extraction kit. The extracted RNA was subjected to amplification with SARS-CoV2 Resolute 2.0 & Fortunate 2.1 assays on BioRAD CFX96. Results The viability PCR (vPCR) efficiency was almost 100% for all SARS-CoV2 RNA input tested suggesting that without viral membrane protection, PMAxx dye effectively bound to the naked RNA after photoactivation process, and the bound RNA was not able to be amplified. The vPCR efficiency was further enhanced with addition of surfactant Triton X-100 suggesting the improved permeability of dye through the viral envelope facilitated the PMAxx binding to the nucleic acid. COVID19 positive clinical samples with viral load ≈ Ct 30 treated with or without PMAxx and photo-activation procedures showed distinctive ΔCt value ranging from 9.27±0.18 to 15.01±0.14. The Ct after dye treatment were all non-numeric (non-detectable) if cut-off Ct sets @ 42.0, indicating the complete inhibition after vPCR pretreatment. Since the clinical samples were undergone heat-inactivation pre-treatment, the result shown here indicating that all samples were non-infectious, which was consistent with the samples tested. Conclusions We developed an effective viability PCR detection method and proprietary vPCR device, which was specifically designed for effective dye photo-activation. In addition, the method takes less than 15 min and could be integrated into the existing standard nucleic acid extraction and amplification workflow. Comparing to the standard PCR test result, this method could provide the information not only on the positivity of the tested pathogen, but also its viability, which could be very essential information for public surveillance and diagnostic decisions for healthcare providers.

Russia’s Autocratic Resilience and the Sources of Political Change: Lankina’s Estate Origins

In Estate Origins, Tomila Lankina sheds new light on the logic of persistence and resilience in the Russian social structure that shapes political possibilities in Russia to the present day. It is a wonderful and rewarding read on the historical origins of social requisites of democracy, such as greater civic activism and more pluralistic political competition. To understand variation in attitudinal and behavioral support for democracy in contemporary Russia, according to Lankina, we must go back to tsarist Russia’s estate institutions. A set of institutions that codified the rights and privileges of different social groups, the estates system created incentives for an eclectic and growing stratum of urban dwellers known as meshchane to invest in education while simultaneously fostering the creation of institutional “infrastructures”—professions, educational institutions, charitable, civic, and local governance bodies—that retained during the communist period a degree of autonomy vis-à-vis the state. This, Lankina argues, allowed the meshchane’s distinct value orientations to persist over time.