Geographic Mobility in the European Union: Optimising its Economic and Social Benefits

One of the founding principles of the European Union is the freedom of movement of workers (Article 39 of the Treaty establishing the European Community). The free movement of workers is essential for the creation of an area without internal frontiers, and for the strength-ening of economic and social cohesion and active citizenship.Taking an economic perspective, geographic mobility can have major positive effects by bringing about economic growth in countries with labour deficits and prosperity in countries with labour surplus. Hence, the diffusion of skills through occupational and geographic mo-bility is a central factor to enhance the productive capacity of firms and put regions or na-tional economies on a higher growth path. Taking a social perspective, geographical mobility has the potential of fostering social-cultural integration in the European Union, and strength-ening European identity and inter-cultural networks

Report No. 19: Geographic Mobility in the European Union: Optimising its Economic and Social Benefits

Joint expertise with NIRAS Consultants and AMS for the European Commission, Bonn 2008 (159 pages)

Voltage-dependent calcium influx in human sperm assessed by simultaneous optical detection of intracellular calcium and membrane potential

AbstractThere are several physiological and pharmacological evidences indicating that opening of voltage dependent calcium channels play a crucial role in the induction of the acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm. In mature sperm, physiological inductors of the acrosome reaction such as ZP3, a zona pellucida protein, and the steroid hormone progesterone, induce depolarization and calcium influx, which are required for the acrosome reaction. In this paper, we describe a voltage-dependent calcium influx present in human sperm. We report an experimental procedure that allows measurement of intracellular calcium and membrane potential simultaneously using the fluorescent dyes DiSC3(5) and Fura-2. We found that in human uncapacitated sperm, depolarization induces a nifedipine-insensitive calcium influx that, in most cases, was transient. Calcium influx was observed in the range of −60 to −15 mV (the range tested). At resting membrane potential (around −40 mV), potassium addition depolarized and induced calcium influx, but when the depolarization was preceded by a hyperpolarization (induced with valinomycin), calcium influx was remarkably enhanced, suggesting that at −40 mV, channels are in a putative inactivated state. When sperm was incubated in medium without calcium, calcium restoration caused calcium influx that depended on voltage, and decayed between 1 and 2 min after depolarization. Unlike ram, mouse or bovine sperm, in which an alkalinization is required to induce calcium influx with potassium, the voltage-dependent calcium influx observed in human sperm did not require an increase in internal or external pH. However, we observed that ammonium, which increases intracellular pH, enhanced the voltage-dependent calcium influx about 90%. Furthermore, depolarization by itself caused a small increase in intracellular pH suggesting that pH can be regulated by membrane potential in human sperm

Is Smart Power Leading the Way Forward? Reassessing its Importance in the U.S. and China’s International Strategy

Since the end of the cold war, the world of politics and international relations has seen China grow its power and influence tremendously. Much of this growth has been fueled by strategies and initiatives focused on smart power, a term coined by Joseph Nye in 2003,[1] through large economic projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Meanwhile, the backbone of the United States smart power is within institutions, most notably the United Nations (UN), which have begun to show their age and weaknesses. 1) Should smart power strategies be known as stronger power building initiatives than hard power strategies? 2) How much does the US and China\u27s current international strategies for power rely on smart power vs hard or soft power initiatives? This paper will address these questions with an increased focus and awareness on the legacy of the Trump administration and existence of the Belt and Road Initiative. To properly answer these questions, this paper embarks on a multi-step process. First, critical theory is utilized to question academia’s accepted definitions of smart power and to better understand the real benefits of hard power in a contemporary world. From this questioning, this paper presents a new more detailed and, perhaps, de-mystified definition of smart power. Next, this paper explores the benefits of smart power compared to hard power. Analyzing how hard powers, especially more traditional ones, operate in a contemporary context is an important aspect of this section. Then this paper analyzes what types of power the US and China’s international power strategies have relied on. This section continues in its use of critical theory to question common narratives, most notably that surrounding which power is most important to the US. [1] Nye, Joseph S. Get Smart: Combining Hard and Soft Power. Foreign Affairs, 88, no. 4 (2009) http://www.jstor.org/stable/20699631, 160

Using small molecules to facilitate exchange of bicarbonate and chloride anions across liposomal membranes

Bicarbonate is involved in a wide range of biological processes, which include respiration, regulation of intracellular pH and fertilization. In this study we use a combination of NMR spectroscopy and ion-selective electrode techniques to show that the natural product prodigiosin, a tripyrrolic molecule produced by microorganisms such as Streptomyces and Serratia, facilitates chloride/bicarbonate exchange (antiport) across liposomal membranes. Higher concentrations of simple synthetic molecules based on a 4,6-dihydroxyisophthalamide core are also shown to facilitate this antiport process. Although it is well known that proteins regulate Cl-/HCO3- exchange in cells, these results suggest that small molecules may also be able to regulate the concentration of these anions in biological systems

Progenitor cell markers predict outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria undergoing liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver transplantation (LT) is an excellent therapy if tumor characteristics are within the Milan criteria. We aimed to define genomic features enabling to identify HCC patients beyond Milan criteria who have acceptable transplant outcomes. METHODS: Among 770 consecutive HCC patients transplanted between 1990 and 2013, 132 had tumors exceeding Milan criteria on pathology and were enrolled in the study; 44% of the patients satisfied the 'up-to-7 rule' [7=sum of the size of the largest tumor and the number of tumors]. Explant tumors were assessed for genomic signatures and immunohistochemical markers associated with poor outcome. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 88months, 64 patients had died and 45 recurred; the 5-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence rates were 57% and 35%, respectively. Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) gene signature was independently associated with recurrence [Hazard ratio (HR)=2.95, p<0.001], along with tumor size (HR=3.37, p=0.023) and presence of satellites (HR=2.98, p=0.001). S2 subclass signature was independently associated with poor OS (HR=3.18, p=0.001), along with tumor size (HR=5.06, p<0.001) and up-to-7 rule (HR=2.50, p=0.002). Using the presence of progenitor cell markers (either CK19 or S2 signatures) patients were classified into poor prognosis (n=58; 5-year recurrence 53%, survival 45%) and good prognosis (n=74; 5-year recurrence 19%, survival 67%) (HR=3.16, p<0.001 for recurrence, and HR=1.72, p=0.04 for OS). CONCLUSIONS: HCC patients transplanted beyond Milan criteria without gene signatures of progenitor markers (CK19 and S2) achieved survival rates similar as those within Milan criteria. Once prospectively validated, these markers may support a limited expansion of LT indications

A Primer on Cognitive Errors Illustrated Through the Lens of a Neurosurgical Practice

Problem Statement: Diagnostic error is often attributed to cognitive errors, including biased thinking patterns, rather than knowledge or data limitations, and education on cognitive bias deserves review in all spheres of practice. Background: The cognitive biases of practitioners create an inherent fallibility in recognizing and treating medical conditions. Awareness of cognitive errors is valuable for mitigating risk of diagnostic error. The impact of cognitive error is substantial in the management of neurosurgically relevant disease. Remarkably broad differential diagnoses often accompany neurologic symptoms. Both focal and non-focal symptoms lend themselves to diagnostic inertia that contributes to errors. Further, initial diagnostic direction can be inaccurate in the involved biological system, anatomic localization, and the pathologic process; thus delaying diagnosis and potentially courting severe consequences. The authors present neurosurgical cases to illustrate the major types of unconscious cognitive errors in medicine using clinically relevant vignettes. Strategies to mitigate cognitive error are also reviewed. Application/Recommendations: Awareness of the types of cognitive errors and de-biasing strategies are valuable to avoid faulty estimation of disease likelihood, avoid overlooking all relevant possibilities, and mitigate error in critical thinking. Recognition that all clinicians are vulnerable to cognitive error exposes the importance of strategies to reduce biases. Efforts to reduce error in medicine can be approached strategically by working to reduce bias and increase discipline in clinical reasoning