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The paper explores the long-term trajectory and the recent acceleration of the conflict over the rule of law in the EU. It focusses on the motivation of the two governments in Hungary and Poland to challenge European core values increasingly aggressively even directly at EU level despite the threat of significant material costs to both countries. Putting forward a Gramscian understanding, we argue that this radicalization is the result of a counter-hegemonic strategy that aims at replacing the liberal order with a new, nationalist, ultraconservative, Christian order on domestic and European levels. The paper traces core elements of this strategy which are either disputed or underestimated in existing literature, most importantly the pursuit of a core ideology and the massive and long-term investment into winning moral and cultural leadership through the penetration of civil society which precedes and complements electoral strategies and autocratic institution building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper seeks to understand the factors that shape populist radical right parties’ economic policies. While there is a good understanding of how these parties’ core ideology of nativism and authoritarianism shapes social policies, we know less about economic policies. With few exceptions, the insights of this literature have also not travelled to East-Central Europe, despite the strength of the populist right in this region. Instead, authors writing on the region focus on the social coalitions forged by populist parties as an explanation for policies. These authors however do not focus on the role of populism in policymaking. Our paper therefore asks whether the ideological literature can travel to economic policies as well, and specifically to the cases of Hungary and Poland. Drawing on the evidence of financial market reforms under the Fidesz and PiS rule in Hungary and Poland, and a congruence analysis testing the predictive power of existing approaches, we show that a combination of ideological and material factors is needed to explain observed economic policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley is a staple crop of major global importance and relatively resilient to a wide range of stress factors in the field. Transgenic reporter lines to investigate physiological parameters during stress treatments remain scarce. We generated and characterized transgenic homozygous barley lines (cv. Golden Promise Fast) expressing the genetically encoded biosensor Grx1–roGFP2, which indicates the redox potential of the major antioxidant glutathione in the cytosol. Our results demonstrated functionality of the sensor in living barley plants. We determined the glutathione redox potential (E GSH) of the cytosol to be in the range of –308 mV to –320 mV. E GSH was robust against a combined NaCl (150 mM) and water deficit treatment (–0.8 MPa) but responded with oxidation to infiltration with the phytotoxic secretome of the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea. The generated reporter lines are a novel resource to study biotic and abiotic stress resilience in barley, pinpointing that even severe abiotic stress leading to a growth delay does not automatically induce cytosolic E GSH oxidation, while necrotrophic pathogens can undermine this robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by Social Exchange Theory, this study has developed a mediation model that explains the role of I-deals in the relationship between perceived supervisor support and employees' discretionary behaviors (i.e., voice and silence). Using a sample of 140 Chile employees, results from our structural equation modeling, indicated that the relationship between supervisor support and employees' voice (positive) and silence (negative) was mediated by task I-deals. However, we found that the relationship between supervisor support and employees' voice (negative) was mediated by task I-incentive while this type of I-deals did not mediate the relationship between supervisor support and employees' silence. This research expands the I-deals literature by focusing on the provision of I-deals to their subordinates and by analyzing the outcomes of incentive I-deals and task I-deals to employees' discretionary behaviors. Supervisors and HR departments might utilize task I-deals to help facilitate desirable employee outcomes, namely more voice and less silence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgery faces significant challenges resulting from changes in medical education and the declining attractiveness of the surgical career path for aspiring doctors in the western world. For example, students' expectations of their future workplace have changed, with issues such as career planning uncertainties, an unbalanced work-life balance, and a lack of compatibility of family and occupation becoming increasingly more relevant. The entry of Generation Z into the workforce will also impact surgery. Although women comprise the largest proportion of graduates only a few opt for a career in surgery. The resulting shortage of young surgeons will negatively impact medical care in German surgical units. Intense competition for talents is already emerging in all medical specialties. Thus, hospitals and academic centers are taking various measures to counteract the impending staff shortage, such as summer schools or scholarships with work commitments. Furthermore, regional funding laws are being established. In addition, as there is a declining interest in surgical training, particularly during the course of medical studies, early integration of surgical skills is crucial to counteract this trend. For this reason, we have developed the "surgical track", designed to offer targeted innovative teaching concepts to get students attracted to surgery at an early stage. The "surgical track" is based on virtual reality (VR) and robotics. Students can practice operations and emergency scenarios through VR simulations and complete practical exercises with robotic systems. High-quality training concepts such as the "surgical track" can help to promote enthusiasm for surgery and impart knowledge at the same time, even if the long-term benefits still need to be evaluated. Through virtual simulations, robotic surgery and innovative teaching, students gain insights into visceral surgery that combine theoretical understanding and practical experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chloroquine-derived photoaffinity probe has been prepared by a convergent synthesis from derivative of 4,7-dichloroquinoline and N1,N1-diethyl-N4-methylpentane. The features of this probe are a unique 3-azido photolabel, the pyridine ring of the quinoline, and the presence of a secondary amine at the 4-position of the quinoline. These features, particularly the 4-amino methylation, prevent triazole formation through combination of the 3-azide and the 4-amine. This undergoes facile cleavage with exposure to a medium-pressure mercury lamp with a 254 nm excitation wavelength. Trapping of the nitrene byproduct is accomplished with its reaction with N-phenylmaleimide as its cycloazidation product. The structure of a ring-opened DBU amine has been structurally characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hippocampal formation is one of the best studied brain regions for spatial and mnemonic representations. These representations have been reported to differ in their properties for individual hippocampal subregions. One approach that allows the detection of neuronal representations is immediate early gene imaging, which relies on the visualization of genomic responses of activated neuronal populations, so called engrams. This method permits the within-animal comparison of neuronal representations across different subregions. In this work, we have used compartmental analysis of temporal activity by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (catFISH) of the immediate early gene zif268/erg1 to compare neuronal representations between subdivisions of the dentate gyrus and CA3 upon exploration of different contexts. Our findings give an account of subregion-specific ensemble sizes. We confirm previous results regarding disambiguation abilities in dentate gyrus and CA3 but in addition report novel findings: Although ensemble sizes in the lower blade of the dentate gyrus are significantly smaller than in the upper blade both blades are responsive to environmental change. Beyond this, we show significant differences in the representation of familiar and novel environments along the longitudinal axis of dorsal CA3 and most interestingly between CA3 regions of both hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulfur rich difluoropentathiodiphosphate dianion [S5P2F2]2−, from fluoride addition to P4S10, has a somewhat checkered history and proves to be the main product of the reaction in acetonitrile. Its optimized synthesis, and structural characterization, as either a tetraphenylphosphonium or a tetrapropylammonium salt, [NnPr4]2[S5P2F2] allows for the first coordination chemistry for this dianion. Reactions of [S5P2F2]2− with d10 metal ions of zinc(II), and cadmium(II), and d9 copper(II) resulted in a surprising diverse array of binding modes and structural motifs. In addition to the simple bis‐chelate coordination of [S5P2F2]2− with zinc, cleavage of the P−S bond resulted in complexes with the unusual [S3PF]2− fluorotrithiophosphate dianion. This was observed in two cluster complexes: a trinuclear cadmium complex with mixed [S5P2F2]2−/[S3PF]2− ligands, [Cd3(S5P2F2)3(S3PF)2]4− as well as an octanuclear copper cluster, [Cu8(S3PF)6]4− which form rapidly at room temperature. These new metal/sulfur/ligand clusters are of relevance to understanding multimetal binding to metallothionines, and to potential capping strategies for the condensed nanoparticulate cadmium chalcogenide semiconductors CdS and CdSe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved synthetic route of [NnPr4][S2PF2] was devised, and its structure was determined. This unusual dithiophosphate is a good ligand for low valent metal centers and examples of this being hydrolytically stable ruthenium complexes RuH(CO)(S2PF2)(PPh3)2, RuCl(CO)(S2PF2)(PPh3)2 and Ru(S2PF2)2(PPh3)2. Taken together these results give an insight into the bonding of the S2PF2 anion to low oxidation state complexes. A comparison of the structural features and reactivity of the complexes with other known Ru(II) complexes is presented. Ru(S2PF2)2(PPh3)2 was successfully carbonylated to give a complex with monohapto and dihapto S2PF2 ligands, Ru(CO)(η1‐S2PF2)(η2‐S2PF2)(PPh3)2 confirming the lability of the fluorothiophosphate anion. Isomers of this latter complex have been structurally characterized with cis and trans PPh3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the large-scale rollout of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in Tanzania, many healthcare providers (HCPs) continue using blood film microscopy (BFM) and clinical examination to diagnose malaria, which can increase the risk of mal-diagnosis and over-prescribing of anti-malarials. Patients disregarding negative test results and self-treating exacerbate the problem. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes and practices of HCPs and healthcare-seekers regarding RDTs in comparison to BFM testing. Methods: A situational analysis was, therefore, conducted in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania. A multi-methodological approach was adopted including (i) a health facility inventory and screening of logbooks from May 2013 to April 2014 with 77,126 patient entries from 33 health facilities; (ii) a survey of 40 HCPs offering malaria services; and iii) a survey of 309 randomly selected household members from the facilities' catchment area. Surveys took place in April and May 2014. Results: Health facility records revealed that out of 77,126 patient entries, 22% (n = 17,235) obtained a malaria diagnosis. Of those, 45% were made with BFM, 33% with RDT and 22% with clinical diagnosis. A higher rate of positive diagnoses was observed with BFM compared with RDT (71% vs 14%). In the HCP survey, 48% preferred using BFM for malaria testing, while 52% preferred RDT. Faced with a negative RDT result for a patient presenting with symptoms typical for malaria, 25% of HCPs stated they would confirm the result with a microscopy test, 70% would advise or perform a clinical diagnosis and 18% would prescribe anti-malarials. Interviews with household members revealed a preference for microscopy testing (58%) over RDT (23%), if presented with malaria symptoms. For participants familiar with both tests, a second opinion was desired in 45% after a negative microscopy result and in 90% after an RDT. Conclusions: Non-adherence to negative diagnostics by HCPs and patients continues to be a concern. Frequent training and supportive supervision for HCPs diagnosing and treating malaria and non-malaria febrile illnesses is essential to offer quality services that can instil confidence in HCPs and patients alike. The introduction of new diagnostic devices should be paired with context-specific behaviour change interventions targeting healthcare-seekers and healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils are the most abundant cells of the immune system and key in combating infections through phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species, neutrophil extracellular traps, and secretion of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. Beyond this, they may influence the adaptive immune response by modulating CD4+ T cell responses. In response to cytokines, mainly GM-CSF, but also IFN-γ and TNF-α, neutrophils express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on their surface. However, to function as antigen-presenting cells for CD4+ T cells, more requirements need to be fulfilled, like antigen internalization, processing into fragments containing T cell epitopes, and their presentation on the cell surface together with costimulatory molecules. Here, studies investigating the key features of antigen-presentation by neutrophils are summarized and discussed. Together, they provide evidence for a potential of neutrophils to specifically activate antigen-experienced CD4+ T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox processes are at the heart of universal life processes, such as metabolism, signaling, or folding of secreted proteins. Redox landscapes differ between cell compartments and are strictly controlled to tolerate changing conditions and to avoid cell dysfunction. While a sophisticated antioxidant network counteracts oxidative stress, our understanding of reductive stress responses remains fragmentary. Here, we observed root growth impairment in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants of mitochondrial alternative oxidase 1a (aox1a) in response to the model thiol reductant dithiothreitol (DTT). Mutants of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (ucp1) displayed a similar phenotype indicating that impaired respiratory flexibility led to hypersensitivity. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was enhanced in the mitochondrial mutants and limiting ER oxidoreductin capacity in the aox1a background led to synergistic root growth impairment by DTT, indicating that mitochondrial respiration alleviates reductive ER stress. The observations that DTT triggered nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) reduction in vivo and that the presence of thiols led to electron transport chain activity in isolated mitochondria offer a biochemical framework of mitochondrion-mediated alleviation of thiol-mediated reductive stress. Ablation of transcription factor Arabidopsis NAC domain-containing protein17 (ANAC017) impaired the induction of AOX1a expression by DTT and led to DTT hypersensitivity, revealing that reductive stress tolerance is achieved by adjusting mitochondrial respiratory capacity via retrograde signaling. Our data reveal an unexpected role for mitochondrial respiratory flexibility and retrograde signaling in reductive stress tolerance involving inter-organelle redox crosstalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NMR as a routine analytical method provides important three‐dimensional structure information of compounds in solution. Here we apply the recently released CRENSO computational workflow for the automated generation of conformer ensembles to the quantum mechanical calculation of 13C‐NMR spectra of a series of flexible cycloalkanes up to C20H40. We evaluate the computed chemical shifts in comparison with corresponding experimental data in chloroform. It is shown that accurate and properly averaged theoretical NMR data can be obtained in about a day of computation time on a standard workstation computer. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment enables one to deduce preferred conformations of large, non‐rigid macrocycles under ambient conditions from our automated procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NMR as a routine analytical method provides important three‐dimensional structure information of compounds in solution. Here we apply the recently released CRENSO computational workflow for the automated generation of conformer ensembles to the quantum mechanical calculation of 13C‐NMR spectra of a series of flexible cycloalkanes up to C20H40. We evaluate the computed chemical shifts in comparison with corresponding experimental data in chloroform. It is shown that accurate and properly averaged theoretical NMR data can be obtained in about a day of computation time on a standard workstation computer. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment enables one to deduce preferred conformations of large, non‐rigid macrocycles under ambient conditions from our automated procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief description of some of the key individuals at McGill University and their contributions to the development of crystallography is given. This is followed by examples of recent structure determinations, which include organic heterocycles, natural products, inorganic salts, and organometallic complexes. Specifically, the bispyridinium adduct of protoporphyrin, the piperidinyl adduct of 3,7-dichloroquinine, trisbenzylmethylthiol, sodium methylarsonium (V), potassium hydroxylamine sulfonate, Vaska's complex adduct from the oxidative addition of p-tolylmercaptan, and a bis isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane adduct of rutheniumdichloridetristriphenylphosphine are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Despite older-aged individuals accounting for most patients with pancreatic cancer, elderly patients are still underrepresented in the clinical trials. Our study aims to identify treatment differences as well as to analyze survival times in the younger and older patient group. Methods: We evaluated the data of 97 pancreatic cancer patients (72 <75 years; 25 ≥75 years) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Age, comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), tumor localization, metastases, carbohydrate-antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) value, number and type of chemotherapeutic agents and treatment regimens used, treatment lines, toxicity and survival time were assessed. Results: The age groups did not differ in their initial conditions (comorbidity, BMI, tumor characteristics). However, treatment intensity of patients ≥ 75 years was lower. Elderly patients received significantly fewer different chemotherapeutic agents and therapeutic regimens, therapy lines and fewer combination chemotherapies. Moreover, elderly patients survived significantly shorter (7.6 vs. 12.7 months, p=0.001). In multivariance analysis, a significant negative influence on survival time was revealed for low therapy intensity (≤2 chemotherapeutics, ≤2 therapy lines), but not for age. In addition, therapy discontinuation and underweight were significantly associated with survival time. Conclusion: Not age per se but lower therapy intensity leads to a shorter overall survival in the elderly patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue leverages the variation across Europe to expand on the conceptualisation of and the empirical knowledge about finance and financialization. As we will show, focussing on Europe can offer a richer understanding of the reach of financialization than the prevalent focus on the Anglo-American world, with surprising insights that may be of more general relevance to other world regions. More specifically, a focus on Europe allows new insights on the reach of financialization, central actors that brought it about, and the choices and trade-offs that have shaped the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Financial Crisis ushered unorthodox financial policies that would have been unfathomable before 2008. Perhaps unexpectedly, some of the boldest measures on this unorthodox spectrum were adopted in semi-peripheral and therefore theoretically vulnerable countries such as some of the European Union's new member states from East-Central Europe. Why did policy makers in some of these countries (Hungary, Romania) embark on rolling back financialization and resort to financial repression in ways that targeted foreign banks in contexts in which this seemed a very risky strategy? Why did such bold moves generally re-established state-finance relations in some countries (Hungary) while comparably milder ones left them generally unaltered in others (Romania)? Finally, why have some countries refrained altogether from such forms of financial unorthodoxy (Latvia)? The paper explains the varieties of policy responses in these countries, with three factors: the role of finance in the national growth model, the capacity of the state to protect itself against adverse bond market reactions and international constraints and opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Flexibility of plant metabolism is supported by redox regulation of enzymes via posttranslational modification of cysteine residues, especially in plastids. Here, the redox states of cysteine residues are partly coupled to the thioredoxin system and partly to the glutathione pool for reduction. Moreover, several plastid enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and damage repair draw electrons from glutathione. In addition, cysteine residues can be post-translationally modified by forming a mixed disulfide with glutathione (S-glutathionylation), which protects thiol groups from further oxidation and can influence protein activity. However, the evolution of the plastid glutathione-dependent redox network in land plants and the conservation of cysteine residues undergoing S-glutathionylation is largely unclear. Results: We analysed the genomes of nine representative model species from streptophyte algae to angiosperms and found that the antioxidant enzymes and redox proteins belonging to the plastid glutathione-dependent redox network are largely conserved, except for lambda- and the closely related iota-glutathione S-transferases. Focussing on glutathione-dependent redox modifications, we screened the literature for target thiols of S-glutathionylation, and found that 151 plastid proteins have been identified as glutathionylation targets, while the exact cysteine residue is only known for 17% (26 proteins), with one or multiple sites per protein, resulting in 37 known S-glutathionylation sites for plastids. However, 38% (14) of the known sites were completely conserved in model species from green algae to flowering plants, with 22% (8) on non-catalytic cysteines. Variable conservation of the remaining sites indicates independent gains and losses of cysteines at the same position during land plant evolution. Conclusions: We conclude that the glutathione-dependent redox network in plastids is highly conserved in streptophytes with some variability in scavenging and damage repair enzymes. Our analysis of cysteine conservation suggests that S-glutathionylation in plastids plays an important and yet under-investigated role in redox regulation and stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the quiet politics of informal business-state interaction explains the political determinants of growth regimes. Building on the business power literature within the study of comparative capitalism, it shows that the noisy politics of elections often leads to changes of government but rarely to fundamental changes in the growth regime. Rather, growth models can be traced to the interactions and interests of dominant corporations within a country and its policymaking elites. The argument is developed through a comparative case study research design, using the case of foreign direct investment–led (FDI-led) growth in Ireland and Hungary. FDI-led growth regimes are a universe of cases that rely on state-led industrial and enterprise policies targeting the capital investment of foreign-owned multinational firms. Despite periods of noisy electoral politics challenging basic tenets of the FDI-led growth model in both Hungary and Ireland, the continuity of FDI-oriented growth is traced to the corporate politics of business-state elite deals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A new two-year Post University Specialty Training (PUST) programme in family medicine was introduced to improve the quality of postgraduate speciality medical education in Tajikistan. Postgraduate education of family doctors (FDs) needs to be urgently scaled up, as 38% of FD positions in Tajikistan remained unfilled in 2018. Moreover, the international financial support for the PUST programme is ending. This investment case assesses the minimum funding needed for the continuation and scale-up of PUST and establishes the rationale for the investment in the light of a recent evaluation. Methods: The costs of the programme were calculated for 2018 and a scale-up forecast made for the period 2019–2023. The impact of the scale-up on the shortage of FDs was assessed. An evaluation using a Multiple Choice Questionnaire and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessed and compared theoretical knowledge, clinical skills and competencies of PUST trained and conventionally trained FDs. Results: The annual costs of the programme were US$ 228,000 in 2018. The total investment needed for scaling up PUST from 31 new FDs in 2018 to 100 FD graduates each year by 2023 was US$ 802,000.However, when the retirement of FDs and population growth are considered, the scale-up will result only in maintaining the current level of FDs working and not solve the country’s FD shortage. The PUST FDs demonstrated significantly better clinical skills than the conventionally trained interns, scoring 60 and 45% of OSCE points, respectively. Theoretical knowledge showed a similar trend; PUST FDs answered 44% and interns 38% of the questions correctly. Conclusions: The two-year PUST programme has clearly demonstrated it produces better skilled family doctors than the conventional one-year internship, albeit some enduring quality concerns do still prevail. The discontinuation of international support for PUST would be a major setback and risks potentially losing the benefits of the programme for family medicine and also other specialities. To guarantee the supply of adequately trained FDs and address the FD shortage, the PUST should be continued and scaled up. Therefore, it is essential that international support is extended and a gradual transition to sustainable national financing gets underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article belongs to the special cluster, "Politics and Current Demographic Challenges in Central and Eastern Europe," guest-edited by Tsveta Petrova and Tomasz Inglot. We explore housing finance and policy in East Central Europe to understand the connection between housing, in particular independent household formation, and the demographic crisis. The combination of high debt-free homeownership rates with illiquid housing finance and limited rental markets produces conditions where housing restricts independent household formation and likely has a restrictive effect on fertility. We first assess the housing regime type in East Central Europe and demonstrate that it closely corresponds to the "difficult housing regime" in Southern Europe, which has well-established negative effects on independent household formation and fertility. Then we present a detailed case study of Hungary, which is a country with very low fertility rates and substantial changes in housing finance and policy over time. In particular, the issue was recently politicized through housing policies centered on household formation to counter the demographic crisis. We present a detailed analysis of policies related to access to housing for young adults through increased access to markets or state housing support schemes. These policies attempted to reduce dependence on families, but after the crisis, we find that these policies reinforce, rather than challenge, dependence on families for housing solutions, thereby limiting independent household formation. While these policies may serve a rhetorical role demonstrating a state response to the demographic crisis, we claim that their impact on fertility can be at most minimal because of stringent restrictions in access that concentrates on upper-middle-income households and limited financial commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Self-expandable metal stents are used for the treatment of anastomotic leaks after gastroesophageal surgery. Predictors for treatment failure and complications are unknown. In this observational retrospective study, we summarize our experience with self-expandable metal stents for the treatment of anastomotic leaks, in order to determine the predictors of treatment failure. Methods: Between 2009 and 2015, 34 patients with anastomotic leak after curative resection of gastroesophageal cancer were treated with self-expandable metal stents. Gender, histology, comorbidity, body mass index, neoadjuvant therapy, previous surgery, leak size, and stent diameter were analyzed for their predictive value according to treatment success and complication rate. Results: Leak closure rate was 76%. Risk factors for treatment failure were neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, squamous cell histology, and esophageal tumor location. Gender, comorbidity, body mass index, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and previous surgery were not correlated with outcome. Mortality rate was 20%, most often due to uncontrolled leak. Severe stent-related complications occurred in 15% of patients, most of them following insertion of a large-sized stent. Conclusion: Squamous cell histology, neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy, and esophageal tumor location are predictors for treatment failure. Severe stent-related complications seem to be preferentially associated with the use of large-sized stents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global financial crisis has ushered in a major housing crisis in many European countries. The paper seeks to shed light on why, despite massive housing crises, there are few policy efforts at tackling it. Probing into the policy paradigms that have informed housing policies, the paper demonstrates a shift towards housing as an asset before the crisis. Increasingly, housing policies have become interwoven with financial markets. This has led to a major policy mismatch after the crisis: while the return of the 'housing question' would have required renewed efforts at establishing housing as a social right, de facto policy makers sought to stabilise financial markets. The result is a paradoxical outcome, where neoliberal market-driven programmes are embedded in increased dependence on family wealth. The article demonstrates the shift from housing as asset to housing as patrimony in three different varieties of residential regimes, represented by Ireland, Denmark and Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: The development of esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) in esophageal cancer (EC) is a devastating complication, leading to poor survival rates and low quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors leading to fistula formation in EC. Methods: We identified 47 patients with malignant ERF formation in EC in a period of 10 years. Clinical characteristics were compared by univariable analysis with 47 randomly selected patients with EC without ERF. A case-control study was conducted for patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and ERF matching in a 1:2 fashion for primary tumor location. Results: The identified risk factors in EC patients were histology of SCC (p < 0.001), former or current smoking status (p = 0.002) and primary tumor location in the proximal esophagus (p < 0.001). The „hot spot" for ERF formation was tumor growth 20-25 cm distal to dental arch. An additional risk factor in SCC patients was age. Patients with ERF formation in SCC were younger than patients without ERF (median 63 vs. 67 years, p = 0.02). No difference in the rate of fistula formation was seen between esophagectomy and definitive chemoradiation, but the latter developed ERF earlier in the course of the disease (237 vs. 596.5 days, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Patients with proximal SCC of the esophagus and a smoking history, as well as young patients with SCC should be closely monitored for ERF formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deriving from the analogy between contingent reward transactional leaders (featured by clarity, consistency, consideration, and consequences) and "good parents," we develop a moderated mediation model where attachment insecurity (avoidance and anxiety attachment) mediates the relationship of contingent reward transactional leadership with follower job insecurity, burnout, job performance, and organizational citizenship behaviors, and meaningful work moderates the relationship between contingent reward transactional leadership and attachment insecurity. Results based on two-wave data from two independent samples largely support our hypotheses. Specifically, supporting attachment theory, the relationship of contingent reward transactional leadership and follower outcomes (i.e., job insecurity, burnout, and job performance) is mediated by both avoidance attachment and anxiety attachment. Supporting the contingency theory of leadership, meaningful work strengthens the relationship between contingent reward transactional leadership and avoidance and anxiety attachment. Additionally, the indirect effect of contingent reward transactional leadership and follower outcomes via avoidance and anxiety attachment is contingent upon meaningful work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Tanaka et al. have synthesized an organometallic supramolecular double decker macrocycle for encapsulating fullerene C70. We investigate this captivating system consisting of about 500 atoms with the robust quantum mechanical tight binding method GFN2-x TB and evaluate our computational results against an experimentally measured change in association free energy (▵ Ga). Further, GFN2-xTB was used to screen higher fullerene isomers and predict the best binding guest for this specific macrocycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the critical Hungarian case, this article analyses the fate of embedded neoliberal capitalism in the wake of the global financial crisis. The changes include policies to combat foreign dominance in the financial, energy, and retail sectors, and efforts to reform and retrench the hitherto relatively generous welfare state. Nevertheless, the article finds no less evidence of continuity than of change: the politicisation of fighting dependency is combined with the quiet politics of subsidising foreign direct investment in manufacturing, and the noisy politics of protecting pensioners and middle-class families parallels the erosion of future-oriented social investment. Notwithstanding the radical turn in development rhetoric, the actual path correction has merely shifted the pattern of dependency without breaking out of it: financing socio-economic development in Hungary (as in other Visegrád states) is still largely dependent on foreign sources, albeit of a more diversified nature, including not only manufacturing FDI, but the EU's structural funds and migrant labour's remittances as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concurrent performance of cognitive and postural tasks is particularly impaired in old adults and associated with an increased risk of falls. Biological aging of the cognitive and postural control system appears to be responsible for increased cognitive-motor interference effects. We examined neural and behavioral markers of motor-cognitive dual-task performance in young and old adults performing spatial one-back working memory single and dual tasks during semitandem stance. On the neural level, we used EEG to test for age-related modulations in the frequency domain related to cognitive-postural task load. Twenty-eight healthy young and 30 old adults participated in this study. The tasks included a postural single task, a cognitive-postural dual task, and a cognitive-postural triple task (cognitive dual-task with postural demands). Postural sway (i.e., total center of pressure displacements) was recorded in semistance position on an unstable surface that was placed on top of a force plate while performing cognitive tasks. Neural activation was recorded using a 64-channel mobile EEG system. EEG frequencies were attenuated by the baseline postural single-task condition and demarcated in nine Regions-of-Interest (ROIs), i.e., anterior, central, posterior, over the cortical midline, and both hemispheres. Our findings revealed impaired cognitive dual-task performance in old compared to young participants in the form of significantly lower cognitive performance in the triple-task condition. Furthermore, old adults compared with young adults showed significantly larger postural sway, especially in cognitive-postural task conditions. With respect to EEG frequencies, young compared to old participants showed significantly lower alpha-band activity in cognitive-cognitive-postural triple-task conditions compared with cognitive-postural dual tasks. In addition, with increasing task difficulty, we observed synchronized theta and delta frequencies, irrespective of age. Task-dependent alterations of the alpha frequency band were most pronounced over frontal and central ROIs, while alterations of the theta and delta frequency bands were found in frontal, central, and posterior ROIs. Theta and delta synchronization exhibited a decrease from anterior to posterior regions. For old adults, task difficulty was reflected by theta synchronization in the posterior ROI. For young adults, it was reflected by alpha desynchronization in bilateral anterior ROIs. In addition, we could not identify any effects of task difficulty and age on the beta frequency band. Our results shed light on age-related cognitive and postural declines and how they interact. Modulated alpha frequencies during high cognitive-postural task demands in young but not old adults might be reflective of a constrained neural adaptive potential in old adults. Future studies are needed to elucidate associations between the identified age-related performance decrements with task difficulty and changes in brain activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores common features of the 'FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries' and 'geoethical thinking' (geoethics). These two approaches to governability stem from communities/environments that habitually do not interact. Small-scale fisheries are socio-environmental systems heavily pressured by anthropogenic global change. The FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries propose how to address this challenge. The concept of geoethics has emerged amongst geoscientists as a way of thinking to understand the societal implications of geoscience professions. When comparing these approaches, they both turn out to be actor-centric and aim to further a path/context-dependent development that respects interests of all actors mutually. Supposedly, such guidance to handle socio-environmental systems may also apply to other communities/environments. To that end, 'geoethical thinking' may offer a helpful 'meta-order'. In turn, geoscientists may like to enrich geoethics from experiences outside their community, e.g. from managing small-scale fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores common features of the 'FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries' and 'geoethical thinking' (geoethics). These two approaches to governability stem from communities/environments that habitually do not interact. Small-scale fisheries are socio-environmental systems heavily pressured by anthropogenic global change. The FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries propose how to address this challenge. The concept of geoethics has emerged amongst geoscientists as a way of thinking to understand the societal implications of geoscience professions. When comparing these approaches, they both turn out to be actor-centric and aim to further a path/context-dependent development that respects interests of all actors mutually. Supposedly, such guidance to handle socio-environmental systems may also apply to other communities/environments. To that end, 'geoethical thinking' may offer a helpful 'meta-order'. In turn, geoscientists may like to enrich geoethics from experiences outside their community, e.g. from managing small-scale fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract By assembling spectators to listen to survivors, truth commissions can help interrogate and perhaps interrupt structures and narratives of violence. Mark Wenman and Andrew Schaap show how this relationship can be theorized through Hannah Arendt's depiction of spectators as judges whose clashing opinions might mark an event as a new beginning. Yet such approaches overlook an alternative, where spectators strategically forfeit judgment through anticipatory gestures of respect and through promises to believe survivors. In this context, Jacques Rancière's concept of dissensus suggests how spectators' forfeited judgements might stage truth commissions as fragile spaces where structural violence can be challenged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Early transition metal distribution, speciation, and uptake mechanisms in bone. • The effect of metallic bone implants on metal accumulation in bone. • Biomimetic and in vivo studies are needed to understand metal coordination in bone. Early transition metals (ETMs) have a complex aqueous chemistry and are widely dispersed in the environment in a number of forms and oxidation states. Due to their unique properties, these metals are used in a variety of applications, including bone implants. Upon environmental or medical exposure, ETMs have been found to accumulate primarily in bone, a well-known storage site for both essential and toxic metals in the body. Though the effects of early transition metals on bone function have been well documented, the role of metal speciation on toxicity as well the mechanism for metal uptake/release in bone is poorly understood. Accurately determining ETM distribution and speciation in bone is essential for understanding potential toxicological implications of metal accumulation. This review focuses on the literature addressing metal distribution and speciation in bone, and the need to expand this research to biomimetic systems and in vivo studies. Furthermore, by evaluating the interplay between ETM chemistry under physiological conditions, bone composition and biology, and metal distribution, this review aims to provide a context through which to untangle the complexity of ETM accumulation in bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the mediation role of follower organization‐based self‐esteem (OBSE) and the moderation role of workplace friendship in the relationship between transformational leadership and follower qualitative job insecurity. We adopted a three‐wave longitudinal design and collected survey data from 142 Chilean employees. Cross‐lagged mediation panel analysis indicated that transformational leadership had a lagged effect on follower OBSE, which, in turn, had a lagged effect on follower qualitative job insecurity. Further, follower workplace friendship moderated the effect of transformational leadership on follower OBSE such that transformational leadership only promoted follower OBSE when followers had high workplace friendship but did not significantly moderate the indirect effect of transformational leadership on follower qualitative job insecurity via OBSE. Integrating the leadership literature with the job insecurity literature, our study takes the first attempt to explore how, why, and when transformational leadership may influence follower qualitative job insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Inclusion in hospital fee calculation" deals with two topics. Firstly, it is explained that in the case of emergency treatment in the emergency room, a prior admission examination should clarify whether inpatient treatment is necessary. The medical measures and examinations in the emergency room alone do not justify hospital admission. Secondly, it is discussed that the InEK is authorized to involve approved hospitals in the transmission of data required for the implementation of the DRG calculation. The self-administration partners DKG, GKV-SV, and PKV-Verband have changed the procedure for selecting hospitals to be obligated and have commissioned the InEK with the implementation. Joint self-administration in the healthcare sector at the federal level will continue to play a significant role in hospital financing. [Extracted from the article]

Anhydrous dinitrogen trioxide, N2O3, dissolved in toluene or dichloromethane rapidly forms stable adducts with tertiary amines such triethyl‐, tribenzyl‐, or trihexyl‐amine. With DABCO, 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane it forms a free flowing orange solid. The analytical and spectroscopic data for the DABCO adduct indicate a formula of DABCO(N2O3)2 which has been characterized by IR, Raman, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The R3N‐N2O3 adducts are hydrolytically sensitive oils or solids which rapidly react quantitatively with thiols to give RSNO. The reactivity of the amine adducts is variable, and the products include amine N‐oxides, ammonium nitrites, and ammonium nitrates depending upon the adduct, conditions, and substrate. Density functional theory, B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pvtz, has been used to compare the predicted structures and spectroscopic data for mono and bis adducts. Geometry optimization of the R3N N2O3 adduct gives a weakly bound Lewis acid/base adduct with the amine nitrogen closest to the nitrosyl N with a strongly tilted planar ONNO2 unit. Anhydrous dinitrogen trioxide rapidly adds to tertiary amines such as DABCO to give orange solid adducts. Shown here is a DFT predicted bis adduct geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe an approach to N‐tosyl 1,3‐amino alcohols that consists of a diastereoselective aziridination reaction of acyclic allylic alcohols and an unprecedented regioselective hydrosilylation of α‐hydroxy aziridines. The products contain up to three contiguous stereocenters. Computational studies outline key aspects of the aziridination mechanism, which is different and more intricate than anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We describe an approach to N‐tosyl 1,3‐amino alcohols that consists of a diastereoselective aziridination reaction of acyclic allylic alcohols and an unprecedented regioselective hydrosilylation of α‐hydroxy aziridines. The products contain up to three contiguous stereocenters. Computational studies outline key aspects of the aziridination mechanism, which is different and more intricate than anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we develop a conceptual model of the relationship between job insecurity and job performance, which is mediated by affective organizational commitment and moderated via perceived organizational support in a Chilean company that has undergone downsizing. In this cross-sectional study, we focused on 400 Chilean employees from the retail sector. Our findings indicate that job insecurity negatively influences job performance, which is a relationship that is partially mediated by effective organizational commitment. Moreover, a high level of perceived organizational support helped intensify the effects of the relationship between job insecurity and affective organizational commitment. To minimize the negative effects of job insecurity on the active employees of a downsizing strategy, an effective intervention is required by developing a more realistic communication in terms of a worker's expectations toward the organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores common features of the 'FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries' and 'geoethical thinking' (geoethics). These two approaches to governability stem from communities/environments that habitually do not interact. Small-scale fisheries are socio-environmental systems heavily pressured by anthropogenic global change. The FAO Guidelines for small-scale fisheries propose how to address this challenge. The concept of geoethics has emerged amongst geoscientists as a way of thinking to understand the societal implications of geoscience professions. When comparing these approaches, they both turn out to be actor-centric and aim to further a path/context-dependent development that respects interests of all actors mutually. Supposedly, such guidance to handle socio-environmental systems may also apply to other communities/environments. To that end, 'geoethical thinking' may offer a helpful 'meta-order'. In turn, geoscientists may like to enrich geoethics from experiences outside their community, e.g. from managing small-scale fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper asks why peripheral European countries have been particularly vulnerable to housing and mortgage booms in recent decades; how these booms have shaped their exposure to the global financial crisis (GFC), and how the GFC has affected peripheral housing finance. To answer these questions, it explores the interaction between European processes of financial integration and domestic housing (finance) policies in four peripheral countries. It argues that the EU framework for free movement of capital and financial service provision as well as the availability of cheap credit has induced a trajectory of housing financialization, which has taken two forms: funding from wholesale markets and direct penetration of foreign financial institutions. These two forms attest to a core-periphery relationship in housing financialization, whose hierarchical character came to the fore in the crisis. Peripheral European countries experienced sudden stops and reversals of capital flows, which badly affected their banking systems. Unable to solve the looming banking crises on their own, they had to turn to creditors to gain access to much needed capital. A combination of international conditionality and domestic policy responses, and the original level of mortgage debt result in different trajectories in housing finance after the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European policy responses to the Global Financial Crisis and its European manifestation have set off a scholarly debate whether different national varieties of capitalism are equally able to cope with deepened European integration. To date, this debate has mostly focused on the contrasting fates of the thriving northern export-oriented capitalisms and the ailing southern European ones. This paper seeks to broaden the debate by focusing on Europe’s Eastern periphery. It argues that a combination of domestic transformation strategies and the EU’s accession policies resulted in two different growth regimes on Europe’s Eastern periphery: a dependent export-driven in the Visegrád countries and a dependent debt-driven in the Baltic States. On the basis of the pre- and post-crisis trajectories of these two growth models, this paper finds that because East Central European capitalisms were profoundly shaped by EU integration, they are on balance also more compatible with deepened integration than Southern European capitalisms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the Caribbean, starting with meteorological observation technologies and the transfer of the meteorological observation of the physical phenomenon hurricane into a societal, economic, and spatial risk, a mosaic of problematizations, rationalities, and practices aimed at ordering and governing space and population unfolds. Based on empirical material gathered to analyze the government of hurricanes in the Caribbean, this paper discusses possibilities to combine riskscapes and governmentality. The thesis of the paper is that, on its analytical level, the concept of riskscapes does not sufficiently address issues and effects of power relations. The paper addresses this gap by including Foucault's reflections on governmentality. For this purpose, the paper presents two theoretical chapters, one on the concept of riskscapes and one on Foucault's conceptualization of governmentality. These are followed by an empirical chapter in which the complex of problematization of hurricanes as risk, as well as resulting spatial effects, are highlighted. Moreover, it is shown how the analytical categories of the governmentality perspective can be applied to an investigation of riskscapes. Hereby, it is shown that riskscapes are the result of power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Poly(3‐alkylthiophenes) are one of the most frequently used conjugated polymer classes in organic photovoltaics. Here, a generalized packing model for the polythiophene main chains in the crystalline form I of high molecular weight regioregular poly(3‐alkylthiophenes) with extended side chains (pentyl through octyl) is reported. The model is based on structural constraints from solid‐state NMR: short internuclear distances of less than 4.0 Å of neighboring thiophene protons parallel to the stacking direction and the isotropic chemical shift for the thiophene protons is high‐field shifted by 0.9 ± 0.1 ppm. Nucleus‐independent chemical shift calculations show that only the most recent structure for P3HT (space group P21/c) is compatible with these structural constraints. On this basis, a generalized packing model is developed, showing that slipping parallel to the stacked polymer chains of up to 1.5 Å is allowed, while out‐of‐plane tilts perpendicular to the stacked chains are only tolerated up to 20°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blasius Merrem (1761-1824) was one of the early reformers of the vertebrate system. While still a student at the University of Göttingen (since 1778), he developed concepts for reclassifying rodents and birds. Merrem's studies on amphibians and reptiles (the latter included in the taxon "Amphibia" L., 1758 at that time) began after 1784, when he was awarded a professorship at the University of Duisburg, where he had access to large herpetological collections. As a first step, Merrem reformed the method of depicting and describing snakes through the example of "new" or poorly known species. The results of these scientific studies were published in the „Beytraege zur Naturgeschichte“ [Contributions to Natural History; 1790 a, b; 1821]. The primary and overreaching objective, however, was to develop and establish major subdivisions within the "amphibians." This new "natural system" was aimed to replace the traditional and typically used "artificial" system as proposed by Carl von Linné (1707-1778). Rather than using only a few specific, outstanding eidonomic features, for the classification within this new integrated system a wide range of eidonomic and anatomical characters were to be examined and reviewed. Merrem may have already put his concept of a "natural system of the amphibians" into words around 1800, which was supposed to be published in Johann Matthäus Bechstein's (1757-1822) extended German edition of Bernard Germain Étienne Lacépède's (1765-1825) „Histoire naturelle des quadrupèdes ovipares et des serpens“ [Natural History of the Quadrupedal Oviparous Animals and Snakes; 1788-1790]. Before this could happen, the sequel of Bechstein's book project was cancelled by the publisher. The results of Merrem's research were only published in 1820 in his „Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien“ [Attempt of a System of the Amphibians], which not only included a new classification but also keys for the identification of the amphibians and reptiles known at that time. Merrem was the first author to separate the reptiles ("Pholidota") from the amphibians ("Batrachia"). His system conflicted with those by others, including the ones by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840) and Georges Cuvier (1769-1832), who predominantly used functional eidonomic structures for their classifications. For his higher-level classification Merrem mainly compared the differentiation of anatomical structures instead of using function-related characteristics. His proposal for a new classification of the amphibians and reptiles, though receiving some recognition during his lifetime, was only partly accepted, with the classification systems of Cuvier and others, dominating systematics for a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Caribbean, starting with meteorological observation technologies and the transfer of the meteorological observation of the physical phenomenon hurricane into a societal, economic, and spatial risk, a mosaic of problematizations, rationalities, and practices aimed at ordering and governing space and population unfolds. Based on empirical material gathered to analyze the government of hurricanes in the Caribbean, this paper discusses possibilities to combine riskscapes and governmentality. The thesis of the paper is that, on its analytical level, the concept of riskscapes does not sufficiently address issues and effects of power relations. The paper addresses this gap by including Foucault's reflections on governmentality. For this purpose, the paper presents two theoretical chapters, one on the concept of riskscapes and one on Foucault's conceptualization of governmentality. These are followed by an empirical chapter in which the complex of problematization of hurricanes as risk, as well as resulting spatial effects, are highlighted. Moreover, it is shown how the analytical categories of the governmentality perspective can be applied to an investigation of riskscapes. Hereby, it is shown that riskscapes are the result of power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinitrogen trioxide, N2O3, is readily prepared and stabilized in high concentrations in dry organic solvents at normal working temperatures. These conditions allow for facile acid and water free nitrosation and nitration reactions for which three examples are given here: the preparation of benzenediazonium nitrite, [PhN2][NO2]; nitrosyl chloride, NOCl, and nitrosylsulfuric acid, (ONOSO3H). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are forced to undertake adaptive measures to protect their crops against climate change impacts. Fruit trees present farmers with unique adaptive challenges. In pursuit to expand the knowledge base on climate change effects on crops in underreported regions, we present herein data from Chile and Tunisia on the vulnerability of cherry and peach orchards to climate change and on possible measures to counter its impact. We aimed to ascertain a) the extent to which fruit farming biophysical operations in Chile and Tunisia are vulnerable to climate change impacts, b) whether the vulnerability can be reduced through agronomic, technological or financial adaptive measures and, c) how to overcome challenges that may prevent implementation of these measures. The study is based on face-to-face interviews with 801 peach and cherry farmers in Tunisia and Chile and three focus meetings with farm representatives. Fruit farmers have used and are planning to use a number of agricultural, technological, and financial tools to reduce the vulnerability of their crops to climate change. Agronomical measures are focused on planting varieties with higher drought and disease resistance as well as lower winter chill requirements. Technological measures focus on installing nets reflects farmer regional experiences with crop hail damage and rain at the fruit maturing stage. Planned improvements in irrigation reflect anticipated future problems with water availability and drought. The decision not to implement adaptive measures is mainly linked to economic barriers. Specific actions are proposed to overcome these and other measure implementation barriers. The self-reported experiences of fruit farmers provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of various climate change adaptive measures, which often differ from scientific expectations or recommendations. For example, farmers are not overly concerned about fulfilling winter chill requirements, they are also not well informed about all available climate change adaptive tools. In addition, many adaptive measures are not implemented due to administrative or financial barriers. To help address this, regionally-led cooperation between farmers, policy makers, industry, and scientists is needed to identify and overcome these barriers, allowing for the successful implementation of appropriate adaptive measures. [Display omitted] • Background: Vulnerability assessment provides the means to identify specific actions needed to minimize climate change impacts on farms • Objectives: Ascertain the extent to which cherry and peach farms in Chile and Tunisia are vulnerable to climate change impacts • Results: Farmers predict drought and water availability issues will affect their farming operations over the next ten years the most • Conclusions/significance: Address climate change impacts at a regional level, focusing on barriers hindering implementation of adaptive measures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Inclusion of private hospitals in the Federal Hospital Statistics" deals with the question of whether private hospitals can be included in the Federal Hospital Statistics. The Higher Administrative Court of Lower Saxony has decided that private hospitals can also be included as hospitals within the meaning of the Hospital Act in the Federal Hospital Statistics. The results of this statistics serve as an important basis for health policy decisions. [Extracted from the article]