Economic agreements concluded between the EU and third parties increasingly take on security matters, such as counter-terrorism, nuclear proliferation and international criminal law. Highlighting the remarkable variation in the presence and content of these security non-trade issues (SNTIs), we argue that it is best explained by the EU’s intensity of foreign policy interests vis-à-vis its partners. Specifically, different stakeholders have divergent views on this matter: some advocate strong linkage between trade and security, while others prefer to tackle these issues separately. We expect the former perspective to determine the content of economic agreements when the partner is in the EU’s backyard. The latter perspective will dominate in negotiations with more distant partners. We test these expectations with a new data set of SNTIs in EU agreements. Employing quantitative methods and controlling for several alternative explanations, we find ample support for the theoretical framework.Economic agreements concluded between the European Union (EU) and third parties increasingly take on security matters, such as counter-terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and international criminal law. Highlighting the remarkable variation in the presence and content of these security non-trade issues (SNTIs), we argue that it is best explained by the EU’s intensity of foreign policy interests vis-à-vis its partners. Specifically, different stakeholders have divergent views on this matter: some advocate strong linkage between trade and security, while others prefer to tackle these issues separately. We expect the former perspective to determine the content of economic agreements when the partner is in the EU’s backyard. The latter perspective will dominate in negotiations with more distant partners. We test these expectations with a new data set of SNTIs in EU agreements. Employing quantitative methods and controlling for several alternative explanations, we find ample support for the theoretical framework.
A key distinction in motivational processes is between motivations and the means for pursuing motivations. Despite being a motivated process, existing models of acculturation do not make this distinction, neither empirically nor theoretically. A motivational framework that is informed by theories of goal constructs to understand the process of acculturation is proposed. This model is tested in two distinct samples comprising immigrants from the former Soviet Union to Israel (N = 239) as well as immigrants from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to Britain (N = 236). Results revealed that the motivation to preserve one's heritage culture and the motivation to adopt one's host culture were each uniquely associated with the respective means for doing so. Furthermore, outcomes in acculturation were determined by the match between acculturation motivations and acculturation means. These findings demonstrate the theoretical and practical implications of analyzing the process of acculturation using a motivational framework.
Recent work has begun to examine the link between motivation for specific emotions and psychopathology. Yet research on this topic to date has focused primarily on depression. To understand patterns of motivation for emotions within and across affective disorders, we assessed motivation for emotions in adults at increased risk for and diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD). We focused on motivation for negative (i.e., sadness) and positive (i.e., happiness) emotions and for emotional instability using self-report and behavioral measures. Both increased BD risk and diagnosis of BD were associated with increased motivation for sadness and decreased motivation for happiness as assessed by behavioral measures. Such motivational tendencies were less consistent when assessed by self-reports. Higher BD risk was associated with increased self-reported motivation for emotional instability (Studies 1–3), although this association was not evident in BD (Study 4). Findings suggest both similarities and differences in motivation for emotions in affective disorders.
Recent work has begun to examine the link between motivation for specific emotions and psychopathology. Yet research on this topic to date has focused primarily on depression. To understand patterns of motivation for emotions within and across affective disorders, we assessed motivation for emotions in adults at increased risk for and diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD). We focused on motivation for negative (i.e., sadness) and positive (i.e., happiness) emotions and for emotional instability using self-report and behavioral measures. Both increased BD risk and diagnosis of BD were associated with increased motivation for sadness and decreased motivation for happiness as assessed by behavioral measures. Such motivational tendencies were less consistent when assessed by self-reports. Higher BD risk was associated with increased self-reported motivation for emotional instability (Studies 1–3), although this association was not evident in BD (Study 4). Findings suggest both similarities and differences in motivation for emotions in affective disorders.
Analysis of the impact of death in high medieval Ashkenaz has focused on practices of mourning and rituals of remembrance. The current article builds on this work by attending to the time immediately following death and before burial. It follows the corpse on its journey from the house to the cemetery through the streets. Focusing on the corpse itself rather than the surrounding mourners, it explores how the presence of the corpse impacted the social interactions and practices undertaken in the house and the street, endowing those spaces with a communal dimension that they did not usually possess. By creating these temporary communal spaces, Jews in high medieval Ashkenaz reordered the spaces the corpse inhabited. Moreover, focus on practices in space illustrates that interactions between Jews and Christians in high medieval Ashkenaz were not only prevalent in secular affairs, but also permeated lifecycle rituals.
The paper discusses the finds of the Late Bronze Age, the Iron Age I/IIA, and the Iron Age IIA from the excavations at Moẓa during the years 1993, 2002, and 2003. The site is discussed in its historical framework, relating to Shishak’s campaign to Palestine, as well as in its wider Judahite archaeological context during those periods.
Despite the existence of potent anti-inflammatory biological drugs e.g., anti-TNF and anti IL-6 receptor antibodies, for treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, these are costly and not specific. Cheaper oral available drugs remain an unmet need. Expression of the acute phase protein Serum Amyloid A (SAA) is dependent on release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α during inflammation. Conversely, SAA induces pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, including Th17, leading to a pathogenic vicious cycle and chronic inflammation. 5- MER peptide (5-MP) MTADV (methionine-threonine-alanine-aspartic acid-valine), also called Amilo-5MER, was originally derived from a sequence of a pro-inflammatory CD44 variant isolated from synovial fluid of a Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patient. This human peptide displays an efficient anti-inflammatory effects to ameliorate pathology and clinical symptoms in mouse models of RA, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Bioinformatics and qRT-PCR revealed that 5-MP, administrated to encephalomyelytic mice, up-regulates genes contributing to chronic inflammation resistance. Mass spectrometry of proteins that were pulled down from an RA synovial cell extract with biotinylated 5-MP, showed that it binds SAA. 5-MP disrupted SAA assembly, which is correlated with its pro-inflammatory activity. The peptide MTADV (but not scrambled TMVAD) significantly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β from SAA-activated human fibroblasts, THP-1 monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. 5-MP suppresses the pro-inflammatory IL-6 release from SAA-activated cells, but not from non-activated cells. 5-MP could not display therapeutic activity in rats, which are SAA deficient, but does inhibit inflammations in animal models of IBD and MS, both are SAA-dependent, as shown by others in SAA knockout mice. In conclusion, 5-MP suppresses chronic inflammation in animal models of RA, IBD and MS, which are SAA-dependent, but not in animal models, which are SAA-independent.
This article highlights the poetics of Syrian poet Muḥammad al-Māghūṭ (1934-2006) as laying the foundation for a poetic identity enacted as a series of performative contradictions between the empirical and the poetic selves in what amounts to a discourse of “rhetorical sincerity.” This poetic discourse employs a variety of devices to communicate that the irreducibility of Arab life in the present can be contained neither in the polished spheres of art nor in the high tones of political speech-making. Al-Māghūṭ’s forms of engagement, I claim, offers a poetic corollary with Antonio Gramsci’s notion of the “organic intellectual.” By situating his personas close to perceived commonalities of human struggles without entirely subtracting their critical distance, al-Māghūṭ negotiates a modernistic consciousness with values of ṣidq (sincerity) and aṣāla (authenticity) lodged in the Syrian sphere. Part one of the article develops the concept of poetic sincerity and draws the lines of al-Māghūṭ’s cultural battles. Part two examines al-Māghūṭ’s rhythmic irregularities in “al-Qatl” (The Killing) as a key component in accomplishing the non-literary task of his ṣidq. This interpretation will hopefully cement al-Māghūṭ’s contribution in the canon of the Arabic prose poem and elucidate the rationale behind his import for later poetic generations.
The aim of this review is to summarise the efforts undertaken so far to compare or standardise quantitative imaging with gamma cameras across centres for multicentre trials in radionuclide therapies. Overall, 10 studies were identified, five of which were set up as a multicentre effort for standardising and comparing methods for quantitative imaging. One study used positron emission tomography imaging with 124I. In the remaining studies, measurements were carried out with planar imaging, single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) or a combination of both. Three studies used radioactive calibration sources that were traceable to national standards. Most of the studies were set up in the framework of multicentre clinical trials in an effort to obtain comparable quantification across sites. The use of state-of-the-art SPECT/CT systems and reconstructions has emerged as the method of choice for dosimetry in clinical trials for radionuclide therapies.
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are negatively perceived by part of the scientific community, the public, and policymakers alike, to the extent they are sometimes referred to as not ``real food ``. Many observational surveys have linked consumption of UPFs to adverse health outcomes. This narrative synthesis and scientific reappraisal of available evidence aims to: (i) critically evaluate UPF-related scientific literature on diet and disease and identify possible research gaps or biases in the interpretation of data; (ii) emphasize the innovative potential of various processing technologies that can lead to modifications of the food matrix with beneficial health effects; (iii) highlight the possible links between processing, sustainability and circular economy through the valorisation of by-products; and (iv) delineate the conceptual parameters of new paradigms in food evaluation and classification systems. Although greater consumption of UPFs has been associated with obesity, unfavorable cardiometabolic risk factor profiles, and increased risk for non-communicable diseases, whether specific food processing techniques leading to ultra-processed formulations are responsible for the observed links between UPFs and various health outcomes remains elusive and far from being understood. Evolving technologies can be used in the context of sustainable valorisation of food processing by-products to create novel, low-cost UPFs with improved nutritional value and health potential. New paradigms of food evaluation and assessment should be funded and developed on several novel pillars-enginomics, signalling, and precision nutrition-taking advantage of available digital technologies and artificial intelligence. Research is needed to generate required scientific knowledge to either expand the current or create new food evaluation and classification systems, incorporating processing aspects that may have a significant impact on health and wellness, together with factors related to the personalization of foods and diets, while not neglecting recycling and sustainability aspects. The complexity and the predicted immense size of these tasks calls for open innovation mentality and a new mindset promoting multidisciplinary collaborations and partnerships between academia and industry.
Significant advancements in the perovskite solar cells/modules (PSCs/PSMs) toward better operational stability and large area scalability have recently been reported. However, semitransparent (ST), high efficiency, and large area PSMs are still not well explored and require attention to realize their application in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). This work employs multiple synergistic strategies to improve the quality and stability of the ST perovskite film while ensuring high transparency. Europium ions, doped in the perovskite, are found to suppress the generation of detrimental species like elemental Pb and I, resulting in higher atmospheric stability. The effect of the top transparent contact is designed to obtain an average visible transparency (AVT) of >20% for full device and a green colored hue. Lastly, the lower current density due to the thinner ST absorber is enhanced by the application of a down-converting phosphor material which harvests low energy photons and inhibits UV-induced degradation. This multimodal approach renders a power conversion efficiency of 12% under dim light conditions and 9.5% under 1 sun illumination, respectively, on 21 cm2 ST-PSM.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops on a background of chronic hepatitis for which the proinflammatory cytokine IL6 is conventionally considered a crucial driving factor. Paradoxically, IL6 also acts as a hepatoprotective factor in chronic liver injury. Here we used the multidrug-resistant gene 2 knockout (Mdr2(-/-)) mouse model to elucidate potential roles of IL6 in chronic hepatitis-associated liver cancer. Long-term analysis of three separate IL6/Stat3 signaling-deficient Mdr2(-/-) strains revealed aggravated liver injury with increased dysplastic nodule formation and significantly accelerated tumorigenesis in all strains. Tumorigenesis in the IL6/Stat3-perturbed models was strongly associated with enhanced macrophage accumulation and hepatosteatosis, phenotypes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as with significant reductions in senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) accompanied by increased hepatocyte proliferation. These findings reveal a crucial suppressive role for IL6/Stat3 signaling in chronic hepatitis-associated hepatocarcinogenesis by impeding protumorigenic NASH-associated phenotypes and by reinforcing the antitumorigenic effects of the SASP. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings describe a context-dependent role of IL6 signaling in hepatocarcinogenesis and predict that increased IL6-neutralizing sgp130 levels in some patients with NASH may herald early HCC development.See related commentary by Huynh and Ernst, p. 4671.
Perennial plants perpetually adapt to environmental changes in complex and yet insufficiently understood manner. We aimed to separate the intra-seasonal temperature effects on structure and function from perennial and annual water stress effects. This study focused on grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. `Cabernet Sauvignon') petioles, which being a continuously produced organ, represent the current status of the plant. Field-grown mature plants subjected to multi-annual irrigation treatments (severe water stress, mild water stress and non-stressed) throughout the growing season were compared with greenhouse-grown plants under three temperature regimes (22, 28 and 34 degrees C). Physiological and functional anatomy parameters were measured. A generalized additive model (GAM) based on meteorological and lysimeter-based field data was applied to determine the relative influence of various meteorological parameters on evapotranspiration (ETc) during the growing season in the field experiment. At the beginning of the growing season, in May, petioles in the severe stress treatment showed a stress-related structure (decreased length, safer hydraulic structure and increased lignification), though having high values of stem water potential (SWP). As the season progressed and temperatures increased, all water availability treatments petioles showed similar changes, and at the end of season, in August, were structurally very similar. Those changes were independent of SWP and were comparable to high temperature-induced changes in the greenhouse. In contrast, stems hydraulic structure was strongly influenced by water availability. Regression analyses indicated a relationship between petioles xylem structure and stomatal conductance (g(s)), whereas g(s) (but not SWP) was temperature-dependent. The GAM showed that ETc was mainly dependent on temperature. Our results indicate a perennial water-stress memory response, influencing the petiole structure at the beginning of the following season. Intra-seasonally, the petiole's structure becomes independent of water status, whereas temperature drives the structural changes. Thus, ongoing climate change might disrupt plant performance by purely temperature-induced effects.
Despite the advantages of maximizing treated wastewater (TWW) reuse, this practice brought upon the presence of micropollutants in edible plants, animals, and even humans, since many micropollutants are not completely removed by conventional treatment plants. Clay polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) have been proposed and widely studied in recent years as a promising sorbent for micropollutant removal. However, most of these studies report the development of a single CPN for the removal of specific micropollutants in batch experiments, usually from synthetic water, and do not compare to the removal by commercial sorbents. Here, we thoroughly investigated the adsorption mechanism of three chemically-diverse micropollutants; cationic, anionic, and non-ionic (metoprolol, diclofenac, and lamotrigine, respectively) from TWW by a CPN with a `loopy' polymer configuration. The results suggest that both cation and anion exchange sites coexist on the CPN, and therefore anionic and cationic micropollutants adsorb simultaneously, and they do not compromise the adsorption of each other. The adsorption of the non-ionic micropollutant enhanced in the presence of the charged micropollutants due to a synergistic effect. These adsorption trends were also obtained for micropollutant filtration by CPN columns. Finally, we demonstrated the simultaneous filtration of effluent organic matter and an array of micropollutants from TWW by the CPN columns and compared it to the filtration by granular activated carbon (GAC). A costeffective comparison indicates that the filtration by the CPN column is more efficient (ng pollutants/ sorbent cost) than by the GAC column.
