bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A ‘Special Relationship’
Authors: Reynolds David
Published: November 2023

A fortnight after Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill arrived in the United States. For much of his three-week visit he stayed in the White House itself, engaged in lengthy and informal conversations with the President. On one occasion, so the story goes, Roosevelt was wheeled into his guest’s room only to discover Churchill emerging from the bath—wet, glowing, and completely naked. Disconcerted, FDR made as if to withdraw, but Churchill waved him back. ‘
Detention and Bail
Authors: Kotzeva Anna , Murray Lucy , QC Robin Tam
Published: November 2023

As we shall see, the powers to detail immigrants are drafted in wide terms. There is no statutory presumption in favour of bail in the immigration legislation, nor are there express statutory time limits on the period of detention. However, limits to the powers to detain are implied by statute and have been construed narrowly by the courts. The powers to detain are also limited by Home Office policy and human rights law. The courts have recognised the fundamental right to liberty and have set down clear markers on the limits of the power to detain.
Understanding The Fourth Gospel
Authors: Ashton John
Published: November 2023

In this fully revised new edition of a pioneering study of John's gospel, John Ashton explores fresh topics and takes account of the latest scholarly debates. Ashton argues first that the thought-world of the gospel is Jewish, not Greek, and secondly that the text is many-layered, not simple, and composed over an extended period as the evangelist responded to the changing situation of the community he was addressing. Ashton seeks to provide new and coherent answers to what Rudolf Bultmann called the two great riddles of the gospel: its position in the development of Christian thought and its central or governing idea. In arguing that the first of these should be concerned rather with Jewish thought Ashton offers a partial answer to the most important and fascinating of all the questions confronted by New Testament scholarship: how did Christianity emerge from Judaism? Bultmann's second riddle is exegetical, and concerns the message of the book. Ashton's answer highlights a generally neglected feature of the gospel's concept of revelation: its debt to Jewish apocalyptic.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Novosel Barbara , Salihovice Nedzida
Published: November 2023

For a thorough understanding of the financial markets in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and their applicable regulations, it is important to understand the structure and the history of the country as a whole, as well as the development of its financial institutions. The signing of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) between the Republic of BiH, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Yugoslavia, which was initiated in Dayton, Ohio in the United States of America (US) on 21 November 1995 and signed in Paris, France on 14 December 1995, ended the conflict in BiH which had been happening since 1992. The GFAP fundamentally established the state structures and the legal system of BiH. Upon signing the GFAP, the country was administratively divided into two distinct governing entities, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Republic of Srpska (RS), both of which are commonly referred to as the ‘entities’ of BiH. Each of these entities is further subdivided into different configurations with local authorities having varying degrees of decision-making power.
Croatia
Authors: Juric Sanja , Cukman Stefanija
Published: November 2023

Harmonization with the EU directives and the EU accession process in 2006 and in 2007 resulted in substantial amendments to the financial sector and other related legislation in the country. The characteristics of the Croatian market, still dominated by the transition processes, have also led to novel legislative solutions. The legislative reform resulted in the new Leasing Act, the Credit Unions Act and the Investment Promotion Act being enacted, and the existing Banking Act, the Securities Market Act and the Foreign Exchange Act being amended. The financial sector of the Republic of Croatia is bank-dominated, while capital markets and insurance form a significantly smaller part of the market. However, the proportionate representation of banks within the financial sector as a whole is gradually decreasing. There are currently five major banking groups in the market with foreign banks holding 91% of all banking assets in Croatia. The Croatian National Bank (CNB) oversees the banking sector. A deposit insurance scheme (established in 1997) and a credit register (established in 2006) enhance the stability of the banking system. The latter started with credit records of natural persons and will eventually be expanded to legal entities.
Cyprus
Authors: Kilikitas Marinella , Neocleous Elias
Published: November 2023

Cyprus is among the world’s smallest countries in terms of area and population but it is one of the world’s major financial and business centres. Cyprus is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, it is a member of the EU and has a mature and transparent legal system and world class professional and financial services. Another reason for Cyprus’s success is its modern, business-friendly tax regime, which conforms to the EU Code of Conduct and the EU rules on business taxation and provides modern, low-tax regime planning opportunities. Cyprus has long been an international trading centre, hosting financial institutions based in Europe, the Middle East and farther afield. Membership of the EU in 2004 removed many of the restrictions such as exchange control and limitation on foreign holdings that had previously existed.
France
Authors: Henry Brice
Published: November 2023

The French financial services industry is one of the leading financial services industries within the EU. Since the second half of the 1990s, the French banking and financial services sector continued to consolidate and adapt, reflected in a further decline in the number of credit institutions (821 at the end of 2006 compared with 855 at the end of 2005). The banking sector has seen the progressive liberalization and disengagement of the French state and the creation of groups of European or international scope. In terms of own funds, six groups are classified in the first 50 groups in the world and dominate France’s banking system, with Crédit Agricole being the sixth largest worldwide and. Moreover, for investment banking activities, the two groups, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’ Epargne, merged to form one of the largest banking groups within the EU.
Guernsey
Authors: Cheong Sean
Published: November 2023

Guernsey is one of the leading international finance centres. Guernsey is independent from the United Kingdom (UK) in legislative and fiscal matters and is not part of the European Union (EU). It has a history of political stability and good governance and has enacted financial services legislation that is upto date, workable and in compliance with international standards. It is not on the OECD list of uncooperative tax havens. There is no capital, value added or inheritance tax in Guernsey, nor any stamp or document duty except in respect of Guernsey property and a half percent duty on authorized share capital up to a maximum of GBP 5,000. As of 1 January 2008, individuals pay income tax at the rate of 20%, with a new 0% corporation tax coming into force for both domestic and overseas companies.
Hungary
Authors: Andreko Csilla
Published: November 2023

From 1989 to 1992 Hungary experienced a fundamental change from being a centrally governed system to becoming a free market economy based on private ownership and the rule of law. This came as a result of widespread privatization and the injection of foreign capital, mainly from the European Union (EU) and the United States (US). Hungary is still relatively poor, as the following figures indicate: GDP per person is less than 50%, while inflation is more than double that compared to the average EU member state. The banking sector dominates the financial system, with more than 70% of all the assets held by the financial sector being concentrated in credit institutions. Banks are key owners in the non-bank financial system. Most of the other financial institutions (investment funds, insurance companies, and pension funds) are owned by the banks or insurance companies or belong to the same financial group.
Jordan
Authors: Ross Timothy N
Published: November 2023

The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), which is fully owned by the Government, regulates all banking services. The CBJ acts as a banker and fiscal agent to the Government and public institutions, and works with the Ministry of Finance to co-ordinate fiscal and monetary policies.
Beyond the dichotomoy of universalism and difference: Four responses to cultural diversity
Authors: Patten Alan
Published: November 2023

When political theorists discuss cultural diversity, they often operate with a basic dichotomy. ey argue that institutional responses to diversity can be either “integrationist” or “accommodationist” in character: that institutional responses can be based on either a model of “universal” citizenship or one of “differentiated” citizenship.
Motor Fuel Taxation And Regional Development: Economic, Environmental And Legal Aspects
Authors: England Richard W , Carlson* Rachel E
Published: November 2023

Without doubt, the motor vehicle is central to daily life in the United States. In 2003, the nation’s fleet of autos, trucks, and buses numbered 231.4 million. There was nearly one auto for every two Americans. In order to service this vehicle fleet, governments at the federal, state, and local levels had constructed 3.97 million miles of public roads by 2003, almost 23.7 per cent of that mileage in urban regions (FHWA, Tables MV-1 and VM-1). This enormous fleet of vehicles and extensive network of streets and highways permits an unprecedented degree of mobility in the contemporary United States. In 2003, vehicles logged 2.89 trillion miles of travel, the equivalent of more than 6 million round trips between our planet and its moon. Along the way, those vehicles burned 169.6 billion US gallons of gasoline and diesel fuels (FHWA, Table MF-21). Mobility of people and freight carries a high price tag, however. In 2001, the private cost of operating an automobile (fuel, depreciation, maintenance, etc) ranged from 20 to 50 cents per mile (Harrington and McConnell, 2003: 21). Of greater relevance to this study are the numerous external costs associated with the nation’s dependence on motor vehicles to transport drivers, passengers, and cargo. Soil and groundwater contamination from leaking fuel storage tanks is a widespread problem, for example. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2005) has confirmed nearly 449 thousand leaks from underground tanks.1
The Construction of the Directive’s Moral Exclusions Under the Epc
Authors: Hellstadius Åsa
Published: November 2023

The European patent system has been one of cooperation and harmonization for more than 35 years, where Member States of the European Patent Convention(EPC)have readily harmonized national patent legislation and practice to European standards created by the European Patent Office (EPO).
Towards Systemic Legal Conflict: Article 6(2)(C) of the EU Directive on Biotechnological Inventions
Authors: Plomer* Aurora
Published: November 2023

Patents on human embryonic stem cells could potentially be excluded under the EU Directive on Biotechnological Inventions either because they fall under the specific prohibition in Article 6(2)(c) or because they contravene the general moral exclusion clause in Article 6(1). Chapter 7 argued that the test to be applied to determine the scope of exclusion of the specific prohibition in Article 6(2)(c) is not primarily a moral, but a definitional test. By contrast, this chapter analyses the scope of application of the general moral exclusion clause in Article 6(1) whereby inventions are unpatentable if contrary to order public or morality.
Human Dignity, Human Rights, and Article 6(1) of the EU Directive on Biotechnological Inventions
Authors: Plomer* Aurora
Published: November 2023

Patents on human embryonic stem cells could potentially be excluded under the EU Directive on Biotechnological Inventions either because they fall under the specific prohibition in Article 6(2)(c) or because they contravene the general moral exclusion clause in Article 6(1).
A Transnational Institution Confronted with a Single Jurisdiction Model: Guidance for the Epo’ s Implementation of the Directive from a Private International Law Perspective
Authors: Torremans* Paul L C
Published: November 2023

A Directive may be an instrument of EU law but its impact is essentially harmonization of and changes to national domestic law. The result of its implementation is a national law that is implemented by national courts in a domestic setting. Any intervention of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is limited to a preliminary opinion that interprets the Directive and that is then applied under an interpretation of the national domestic law by the national court that referred the question to the European Court of Justice.
Making nanostructures: top down
Authors: Lindsay S M
Published: November 2023

This chapter is about the conventional techniques used to produce nanostructures. The dominant use of nanostructures in manufacturing is, of course, in the electronics industry. This has driven the development of technology at a remarkable rate. In 1965, Gorden Moore, the founder of Intel, observed that the number of transistors in integrated circuits was doubling every 18 months. Plots of the growth of computer technology show this exponential growth over long periods and in any measure (number of transistors per unit area, calculations per second, etc.). For example, the author, Ray Kurzweil, has constructed a log-linear plot of the number of computations per second per $1000 of computer cost. It is an almost perfect straight line when plotted with available data from the year 1900 to the year 2000. This exponential growth is often referred to as Moore’s Law. Though hardly a law of physics, it certainly captures a robust feature of rapid technology development. As a consequence of this breakneck pace of development, it is highly likely that this chapter about technology will become dated rapidly. The best that can be done is to give a snapshot of some of the tools available at the time of writing. It would be a mistake to think that many of the limitations discussed here will still apply in a few years.
Stern and Gerlach Observe Spatial Quantization (1922)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

The Stern–Gerlach experiment is described or at least mentioned in practically every textbook on modern physics and its result is presented as clear proof for the spin of the electron. However, spin was unknown at the time of experiment and also not discovered on the basis of its outcome. The reason for Stern to propose and undertake the experiment was the wish to test Sommerfeld’s idea of spatial quantization.
Dirac’s Mechanics of q Numbers (1925)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

The celebrated three-men paper, which gave the first extensive account of the new quantum mechanics, started by Heisenberg in the summer of 1925, appeared in print in February 1926 (see Episode 37). On its first page it contains a note added in proof : ‘In a paper by P. Dirac [1] which has appeared in the meantime independently some of the results [in the Born–Jordan paper and in the three-men paper] and new conclusions drawn from the theory have been given.’ How did it happen that in the short time available an unknown outsider could have done independent and new work?
Fermi–Dirac Statistics – Yet Another Way of Counting (1926)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

Fermi [1,2] is one of the towering figures in twentieth-century physics. He made important contributions to both theoretical and experimental physics. In fact, being a theoretician essentially by self-training, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for experimental work. His first outstanding achievement was the discovery of another way of counting in statistical physics which, like the way of Bose and Einstein, was able to explain the third law of thermodynamics.

Fermi was born in Rome. His father was a railway employee from the north of Italy, his mother a school teacher from the south. Both Enrico Fermi and his brother Giulio, older by one year, were exceptionally bright children, very close to each other. Together they built electrical motors and other complicated toys. Completely unexpectedly, when only fourteen, Guilio died in a seemingly trivial operation on an abscess in his throat. This tragedy forever changed the atmosphere in the Fermi household to deep depression. Fermi began to study a lot by himself using second-hand books, some of them in Latin, which he bought from his meagre pocket money. In school, he found a lifelong friend with a similar inclination towards science, Persico . Later, they became the first two professors of theoretical physics in Italy. A colleague of Fermi’s father, Adolfo Amidei, was an engineer with a university degree. He lent Fermi one of his own mathematics books and when he found that Fermi had studied it within a few weeks and solved all the problems posed there he decided that Fermi was a prodigy. He set up a rather careful plan for Fermi’s studies in mathematics as prerequisite for physics, which already then was Fermi’s primary interest, and advised him to learn German (not taught in school) so that he could read more scientific literature. Following another advice by Amidei, Fermi took part in a competition for a fellowship at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, which had been founded by Napoleon and had become something like an elite college attached to the university. He passed first and, beginning in 1918, he studied in Pisa where he obtained his Ph.D.
Heisenberg on Nuclear Forces: Isospin (1932)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

Until 1932, Heisenberg was convinced that quantum mechanics was insufficient to describe the atomic nucleus just as classical physics had been insufficient to describe the atom. Indeed, experimental results on nuclei seemed to contradict quantum mechanics. In Episode 46 we mentioned the problem of ‘wrong statistics’ and its cure through Pauli’s neutrino hypothesis. But Pauli himself was not too sure and published about the neutrino only in 1933. Before the discovery of the neutron the nucleus was considered to consist of protons and electrons.
The Proton Displays an ‘Anomalous’ Magnetic Moment (1933)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

We told in Episode 30 that Stern, at the end of 1921, had moved to Rostock, a small town on the Baltic Sea, while the Stern–Gerlach experiment was completed. There he had been appointed associate professor. He was accompanied by Estermann , who worked closely with Stern until the latter’s retirement. Already the following year Stern was offered a chair of physical chemistry and the directorship of an institute still to be erected at the recently founded university in Hamburg.
Cherenkov Radiation Discovered (1934) and Explained (1937)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

At the end 1917, a young Russian soldier was taken prisoner by a German unit. Sergei Vavilov [1–3] had been a physicist before the war and had worked under Lebedev in Moscow. As fate had it, the officer interrogating him was a physicist, too. They discussed physics for most of the night and, as morning drew near, Vavilov was helped by his German colleague to make his escape. On returning to Moscow, he found that his father, a textile merchant, had lost his fortune and emigrated. But he and his brother Nikolai, a biologist, decided to stay. Vavilov worked in the Physics and Biophysics Institute in Moscow, mainly on luminescence, and taught at Moscow University. In 1932 he was made the youngest full member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. By the same year, while retaining his chair in Moscow, he became head of research of the Optical Institute and of a department of the Physico-Mathematical Institute of the Academy, both in Leningrad.
Why the Stars Shine (1938)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

What is the source of energy that makes the sun shine? The first who tried to give a scientific answer to this question was Helmholtz. He proposed that the sun has been slowly contracting under its own gravitation and that energy was being released because matter was falling towards the centre of the sun. This mechanism could provide for the sun’s energy output since around 30 million years, a long time but much too short on a geological scale.
Nuclear Fission (1938)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

Otto Hahn’s father had come to the old city of Frankfurt in 1866. A few years later he bought the small glazier’s shop in which he worked and gradually transformed it into a flourishing glazing business which still exists under his name. Otto Hahn [1], the youngest of four brothers, studied organic chemistry in Marburg, and after a year of military service, stayed there for another two years as assistant to Zincke , his Ph.D. adviser. Near the end of this time he was given the prospect of a position in industry for which he would need fluency in a foreign language. His parents agreed to fund a stay abroad and Zincke wrote to Ramsay in London who, in 1904, accepted Hahn as an unpaid visitor in his institute at University College.
The Shell Model – A Periodic Table for Nuclei (1949)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

The Periodic Table of the elements was conceived on the basis of the observed chemical similarities between elements long before the reality of atoms was generally accepted. In 1914 Moseley demonstrated that the position number of an element in the Periodic Table is equal to the number Z of elementary charges in the nuclei of its atoms (Episode 24) and in 1925 Pauli explained the periodicity by enumerating the electrons fitting into successive shells surrounding an atomic nucleus (Episode 35). When, in particular, through the work of Aston (Episode 22), it became apparent that there are, in general, several different isotopes per element, a search for systematics in the wealth of isotopes began and with it the history [1,2] of the nuclear  shell  model.
Keeping Ions in a Trap (1958)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

An important element of the first maser (Episode 73) was an electrostatic ‘focusser’ which acted on the electric dipole moment of neutral molecules. It was based on the use of multipole fields pioneered by Paul in Göttingen and brought to perfection in his first years in Bonn.
The Laser (1960)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

In Episode 73 we described the development of an instrument with unusual properties and of outstanding precision, the maser , which was first realized by Townes and co-workers. It generates microwaves (electromagnetic waves with a wavelength around 1 cm) which are coherent and of extremely well-defined and stable frequency. In 1958, in a very influential paper, entitled Infrared and Optical Masers [1], Schawlow and Townes discussed possibilities to extend the maser principle to much shorter wavelengths.
Semiconductor Heterostructures – Efficient Laser Diode Proposed (1963) and Built (1970)
Authors: Brandt Siegmund
Published: November 2023

The essential elements of the first transistor, the point-contact transistor discussed in Episode 69, are the two transition regions (also called contacts, interfaces, or junctions) between a metal and a semiconductor, both having the property of a rectifier. Already in 1948 Shockley applied for the patent [1] on a quite different and later widely used device, the junction transistor . Here the interfaces are between regions of the same semiconductor material (originally germanium, now usually silicon), doped by acceptor atoms on one side of the junction and by donor atoms on the other side. Such interfaces are now called homojunctions . An interface between two different crystals is a semiconductor heterojunction . The new possibilities, inherent in heterojunctions, were first understood theoretically. Intense experimental efforts then led to the development of new devices, particularly in the field of optoelectronics. Furthermore, special devices containing heterojunctions allow fundamental research, such as studies of an electron gas in two, one, or even zero space dimensions.
The Macroeconomic Effects Of Unilateral Environmental Tax Reforms In Europe, 1995 To 2012
Authors: Barker Terry , Junankar Sudhir , Pollitt, Hector , Summerton Philip
Published: November 2023

The purpose of an environmental tax reform (ETR) is to implement specific taxes to encourage households and industries to behave in a way which is environmentally sustainable. To counterbalance the possible adverse effects of an increase in green taxes, other taxes are reduced, using the revenues generated by the ETR implementation. This ‘recycling mechanism’ may take effect through direct taxes (income tax, corporation tax), social security contributions (ie paid by employers or paid by employees) or other measures (for example, support schemes for investment expenditure, and depreciation and benefits or other compensatory measures).
Administrative Costs Of The Czech System Of Environmental Charges
Authors: Pavel Jan , Vítek Leoš
Published: November 2023

Since 1997, efforts have been made in the Czech Republic to implement the taxation of certain products which pollute the environment and which are considered harmful. The 1999 governmental legislative plan considered submitting a proposal for an Act on Environmental Taxes, but the objective was changed to the submission of a proposal for the Concept of Gradual Greening of the Tax System.

The first attempt to submit a proposal for the concept of environmental tax reform for governmental discussion fell through, due to disagreement from other ministries, based on the unclear compensation method for low-income groups and the agricultural sector.
Co2 Emissions In Italy: A Micro-Simulation Analysis Of Environmental Taxes On Firms’ Energy Demand
Authors: Bardazzi Rossella , Oropallo, Filippo , Pazienza Maria Grazia
Published: November 2023

According to an overwhelming body of scientific literature, the Earth’s climate is rapidly changing, predominantly as a result of increases in greenhouse gases caused by human activities (for example, through burning fossil fuels and changing the land surface, etc.).

Fighting climate change and its consequences by achieving stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations is a key objective of the European Union (EU). As regards climate change, the EU environmental policy acts under the Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005. As is well known, the EU has committed itself to the target of an 8 per cent emissions reduction from the base-year level by 2008 to 2012. Within this overall target, differentiated emission reduction targets have been assigned to Member States under the ‘burden-sharing agreement’. The protocol provides a broad list of ‘traditional’ policies aimed at reaching the target such as environmental taxes, use of renewable energy, energy effi ciency, and carbon sinks; moreover, the protocol also establishes three ‘? exible mechanisms’ (Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism, and the Emission Trading Scheme), designed to help countries to comply with the target. Finally, the EU has set itself new ambitious targets for 2020 in the Climate Action Plan: a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases, increasing renewable energy use up to 20 per cent of total energy consumption, and a signifi cant increase in energy effi ciency. The planned cuts in greenhouse gas emissions call for a substantial shift in fi rm and consumer behaviour. As regards fi rms, there is a request for a change in the input mix and for investment in energy-saving technologies. These targets imply costs, whatever the instrument chosen, but instruments differ in economic impact and an optimal policy mix may help to reduce distortions and overall costs. In general terms, a major endorsement for market based instruments —as opposed to the traditional command and control approach—can be found in the Kyoto framework and in the new Climate Action Plan.
Environmental Fiscal Reform In Developing, Emerging, And Transition Economies
Authors: Cottrell Jacqueline , Olearius, Axel , Lorek Stephanie
Published: November 2023

This chapter is based on the Special Workshop on Environmental Fiscal Reform in Developing, Emerging and Transition Economies hosted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH, which took place within the framework of the Eighth Global Conference on Environmental Taxation, in Munich, Germany, in 2007. This chapter summarizes the main lessons learnt from the workshop and serves as an introductory chapter to this section on environmental fi scal reform (EFR) in developing countries.

First and foremost, it should be pointed out that governance, environment, and the fi scal system are complex, cross-cutting issues, even more so when seen in the context of EFR. The specific context within which EFR is implemented in developing, emerging, and transition economies is unique in each case. EFR legislation is highly sensitive to country-specific circumstances. The lessons below can only provide a general guide to issues meriting consideration during the policy process.
Political Science and The Capital Order: A Review Essay
Authors: Toloudis Nicholas
Published: November 2023

The relationship between capitalism and democracy has been a preoccupation of political science for at least half a century. It has appeared in different forms, but the basic question remains the same: can capitalism and democracy coexist? Through an analysis of post–World War I austerity policy, Clara Mattei's Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism puts the incompatibilities between the two on stark display. Mattei demonstrates that austerity is a not a neutral policy tool for economic management, as its supporters and critics assume. Rather, it is a mechanism of class control. This interpretation helps to make sense of austerity's apparent “failures.” By calling attention to the class character of economic policy in general, Capital Order suggests that political scientists revisit the notions of the structural dependence of the state on capital and class compromise. It also asks readers to take seriously the politically constructed nature of economics as a realm of action and thinking separate from politics. Through its implication of professional economists in an antidemocratic policy initiative, it also has uncomfortable implications for political science.
Democracy Through Strength in Modern Asia: A Review Essay of Dan Slater and Joseph Wong's From Development to Democracy
Authors: Jiang Junyan
Published: November 2023

Junyan Jiang's review essay of Dan Slater and Joseph Wong's From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia highlights the innovative and compelling aspects of the book but also raises some questions about the authors’ interpretations of the conditions, content, and consequences of elite-led democratization in East and Southeast Asia.
If you’re happy and you know it: neural correlates of self-evaluated psychological health and well-being
Authors: Cosme Danielle , Mobasser Arian , Pfeifer Jennifer H
Published: November 2023

Psychological health and well-being have important implications for individual and societal thriving. Research underscores the subjective nature of well-being, but how do individuals intuit this subjective sense of well-being in the moment? This pre-registered study addresses this question by examining the neural correlates of self-evaluated psychological health and their dynamic relationship with trial-level evaluations. Participants (N = 105) completed a self-evaluation task and made judgments about three facets of psychological health and positive functioning—self-oriented well-being, social well-being and ill-being. Consistent with pre-registered hypotheses, self-evaluation elicited activity in the default mode network, and there was strong spatial overlap among constructs. Trial-level analyses assessed whether and how activity in a priori regions of interest—perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and ventral striatum—were related to subjective evaluations. These regions explained additional variance in whether participants endorsed or rejected items but were differentially related to evaluations. Stronger activity in pgACC was associated with a higher probability of endorsement across constructs, whereas stronger activity in vmPFC was associated with a higher probability of endorsing ill-being items, but a lower probability of endorsing self-oriented and social well-being items. These results add nuance to neurocognitive accounts of self-evaluation and extend our understanding of the neurobiological basis of subjective psychological health and well-being.
The essential role of O-GlcNAcylation in hepatic differentiation
Authors: Robarts Dakota R. , Kotulkar Manasi , Paine-Cabrera Diego , Venneman Kaitlyn K. , Hanover John A. , Zachara Natasha E. , Slawson Chad , Apte Udayan
Published: November 2023

Background:

O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification catalyzed by the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase, which transfers a single N-acetylglucosamine sugar from UDP-GlcNAc to the protein on serine and threonine residues on proteins. Another enzyme, O-GlcNAcase (OGA), removes this modification. O-GlcNAcylation plays an important role in pathophysiology. Here, we report that O-GlcNAcylation is essential for hepatocyte differentiation, and chronic loss results in fibrosis and HCC.

Methods:

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to investigate hepatocyte differentiation in hepatocyte-specific O-GlcNAc transferase-knockout (OGT-KO) mice with decreased hepatic O-GlcNAcylation and in O-GlcNAcase-KO mice with increased O-GlcNAcylation in hepatocytes. Patients HCC samples and the diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC model were used to investigate the effect of modulation of O-GlcNAcylation on the development of liver cancer.

Results:

Loss of hepatic O-GlcNAcylation resulted in disruption of liver zonation. Periportal hepatocytes were the most affected by loss of differentiation, characterized by dysregulation of glycogen storage and glucose production. O-GlcNAc transferase-KO mice exacerbated diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC development with increased inflammation, fibrosis, and YAP signaling. Consistently, O-GlcNAcase -KO mice with increased hepatic O-GlcNAcylation inhibited diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC. A progressive loss of O-GlcNAcylation was observed in patients with HCC.

Conclusions:

Our study shows that O-GlcNAcylation is a critical regulator of hepatic differentiation, and loss of O-GlcNAcylation promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. These data highlight increasing O-GlcNAcylation as a potential therapy in chronic liver diseases, including HCC.
Tensorial Fourier expansion of orientation distribution function defined on the orthogonal group O(3)
Authors: Du Wenwen , Man Chi-Sing
Published: November 2023

Recently, Man and Du, in the context of classical texture analysis where the orientation distribution function (ODF) is defined on the rotation group SO(3), presented a systematic procedure by which the classical expansion of an ODF truncated at the order

l
=
L

can be directly rewritten as a tensorial Fourier expansion truncated at the same order. In classical texture analysis, the groups of crystallite and texture symmetries are assumed to be subgroups of SO(3), which is unreasonable, say, for aggregates of crystallites in a crystal class defined by an improper point group. In this paper, we consider ODFs defined on the orthogonal group O(3) and extend the aforementioned procedure to write down tensorial Fourier expansions for polycrystals with crystallite symmetry defined by any of the 21 improper point groups. Examples that illustrate the general procedure are given.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Foundational issues, analysis and geometry in continuum mechanics’.
Rapid Diagnostic Work-Up of Streptococcus dysgalactiae Endophthalmitis by a Novel Culture Processing System
Authors: Su Erin , Chang Jessica , Ugaban Khay , She Rosemary
Published: November 2023

The diagnosis of infective endophthalmitis is supported by microbiologic work-up. Rapid work-up is critical to confirm clinical suspicion and enable appropriate antimicrobial therapy. We report the novel use of an automated liquid culture processing system (Fast System, Qvella Corporation) in a vitreous fluid culture. A 59-year-old patient with post-operative endophthalmitis presented with acute right eye pain and blurred vision. Vitreous fluid collected for microbiology culture was of limited quantity and only inoculated to thioglycolate broth. Broth culture recovered beta-hemolytic, group G Streptococcus dysgalactiae susceptible to penicillin and vancomycin. Experimental application of the Fast System to isolate and concentrate the organism from the broth culture yielded the same identification and susceptibility test results but one day sooner than the standard workflow. Despite prompt treatment with appropriate antibiotics including vancomycin and ceftriaxone, disease progressed rapidly and required enucleation to achieve a stable therapeutic outcome. Use of automated processors such as the FAST System for monomicrobial broth cultures has thus far focused on positive blood culture broths, but could potentially include other liquid-based cultures such as for sterile body fluids of critical nature.
Excretory-secretory products from adult helminth Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have in vitro bactericidal activity
Authors: Pillay Roxanne , Mkhize-Kwitshana Zilungile L. , Horsnell William G.C. , Icke Christopher , Henderson Ian , Selkirk Murray E. , Berkachy Rita , Naidoo Pragalathan , Niehaus Abraham J. , Singh Ravesh , Cunningham Adam F. , O'Shea Matthew K.
Published: November 2023

Introduction. Intestinal helminths and microbiota share the same anatomical niche during infection and are likely to interact either directly or indirectly. Whether intestinal helminths employ bactericidal strategies that influence their microbial environment is not completely understood.

Hypothesis. In the present study, the hypothesis that the adult hookworm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis produces molecules that impair bacterial growth in vitro, is tested.

Aim. To investigate the in vitro bactericidal activity of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis against commensal and pathogenic bacteria.

Methodology. The bactericidal effect of somatic extract and excretory-secretory products of adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis on Gram-positive (

Staphylococcus aureus

) and Gram-negative (

Escherichia coli

,

Salmonella enterica

serovar Typhimurium, and

Klebsiella pneumoniae

) bacteria was assessed using growth assays. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration assays were performed using excretory-secretory products released from the pathogen.

Results. Broad-spectrum in vitro bactericidal activity in excretory-secretory products, but not somatic extract of adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis was detected. The bactericidal activity of excretory-secretory products was concentration-dependent, maintained after heat treatment, and preserved after repeated freezing and thawing.

Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate that helminths such as Nippostrongylus brasiliensis release molecules via their excretory-secretory pathway that have broad-spectrum bactericidal activity. The mechanisms responsible for this bactericidal activity remain to be determined and further studies aimed at isolating and identifying active bactericidal molecules are needed.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions to mental health consumers within Sydney Local Health District
Authors: Simpson Andrew , Parcsi Lisa , McDonald Andrew
Published: November 2023

Purpose

People living with severe mental illness (PLWSMI) experience disproportionately high rates of morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) introduced the Living Well, Living Longer integrated care program in 2013 to address this inequity. This paper reports on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions to community mental health consumers in SLHD.

Design/methodology/approach

Rates of COVID-19 vaccinations were collated. Routinely collected service data were reviewed for changes in rates of metabolic monitoring, mental health shared care, physical health checks, cardiometabolic health clinic assessments and diet and exercise interventions.

Findings

91.9% of consumers received at least two COVID-19 vaccinations and 61.3% received a booster. However, there was a 37.3% reduction in rates of metabolic monitoring, 20.1% reduction in Mental Health Shared Care agreements, 60.6% reduction in physical health checks with general practitioners, 65.4% reduction in cardiometabolic clinic assessments and 19.8% reduction of diet and exercise interventions.

Practical implications

The impact of the pandemic may lead to an exacerbation of poorly managed comorbid disease and increased premature mortality in people living with severe mental illness. Service providers should consider the local impact of the pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions and ensure steps are taken to address any deficits.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of published analysis regarding the impact of the pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions to people living with severe mental illness.
Small axe: chipping away at special collections barriers to inclusivity
Authors: Sykes-Kunk Jasmine C. , Camacho Azalea , Enriquez Sandy
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to share this study’s efforts to foster belonging in special collections public service spaces, as Black and Latina practitioners of color, while navigating known systemic professional barriers to inclusivity in the library information profession.

Design/methodology/approach

In this conceptual essay, frameworks from Black and Chicana feminist theories are applied which resonate deeply with this study’s practices but are not often encountered in library spaces, namely intersectional nepantla, which is used to situate the positionality within special collections.

Findings

Fostering belonging in special collections environments is an ongoing effort, but this study offers reflections in solidarity with all who seek to increase inclusivity and equity in their spaces. It is believed that the cumulative impact of many small actions implemented from the ground up can potentially be as significant as top-down, administrative charges.

Originality/value

This article's originality stems from both its authors and the methodology. As BIPOC practitioners, to the authors emphasize the authentic, day-to-day interactions that are essential to developing inclusivity and equity in special collections and archival spaces. Special collections reference workers have limited time off desk to collaborate and conduct research.
Tree demographic and neighbourhood responses to regional environmental gradients of the northwestern United States
Authors: Nevins L. McKinley , Zambrano Jenny
Published: November 2023

Studies of drivers shaping forest communities frequently include abiotic or biotic factors, while their interactive effects remain understudied. Here, we combined data on two prominent abiotic gradients, climatic moisture deficit and wildfire probability, along with tree functional neighbourhoods (i.e. trait differences of close neighbours) to assess variation in survival and growth of 56 tree species in the northwestern US.

We asked two questions: (1) How does functional neighbourhood dissimilarity vary with environmental gradients? and (2) How do demographic rates of tree species in the northwestern United States vary with the interactive effects of environmental gradients and functional neighbourhood? We expected functional neighbourhoods to become more similar as environmental stress increased, due to a convergence of species towards an optimum stress tolerance strategy. We also predicted the interactive effects of abiotic and biotic factors on tree demography and high variation in species‐specific responses to these interactive effects due to divergent species life history strategies.

Functional neighbourhoods defined by dissimilarities in stem conductivity, litter decomposition, resprouting ability and specific leaf area changed with climate, shifting to more diverse neighbourhoods as climatic moisture deficit and wildfire probability increased. Results supported interactive effects of the functional neighbourhood and climatic moisture deficit or wildfire probability on tree demography, but only when the identity of dominant species was considered. Species‐specific responses were highly variable in their direction and magnitude and often demonstrated opposing effects of climate and the functional neighbourhood and climatic moisture deficit on tree demography.

Synthesis. Our findings show that climate and tree neighbourhood functional dissimilarity jointly impact tree demography; however, the effects are species‐specific. Results of this study highlight the need to consider the interactive effects of abiotic and biotic contexts and individual species responses to their environment to adequately understand tree persistence under current and future climate conditions.
To be or not to be compliant? Hospitals' initial strategic responses to the federal price transparency rule
Authors: Mittler Jessica N. , Abraham Jean M. , Robbins Julie , Song Paula H.
Published: November 2023

Objective

To understand US hospitals' initial strategic responses to the federal price transparency rule that took effect January 2021.

Data Sources and Study Setting

Primary interview data collected from 12 not‐for‐profit hospital organizations in six US metropolitan markets. All but one organization were multihospital systems; the 12 organizations represent a total of 81 hospitals.

Study Design

Exploratory, cross‐sectional, qualitative interview study of a convenience sample of hospital organizations across six geographically and compliance diverse markets.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

In‐depth, semi‐structured, qualitative interviews with 16 key informants across sampled organizations between November 2021 and March 2022. Interviews solicited data about internal organizational factors and external market factors affecting strategic responses. Transcribed interviews were de‐identified, coded, and analyzed using the constant comparative method.

Principal Findings

Hospitals' strategic responses were influenced internally by the degree of the regulation's alignment with organizational values and goals, and task complexity vis‐a‐vis available resources. We found extensive variation in organizational capabilities to comply, and all but one organization relied on consultants and vendors to some degree. Key external factors driving strategic responses were hospitals' variable perceptions about how available price information would affect their competitive position, bottom line, and reputation. Organizations with more confidence in their interpretation of the environment, including how peers or purchasers would behave, and greater clarity in their own organization's position and goals, had more definitive initial strategic responses. In the first year, organizations' strategic responses skewed toward compliance, especially for the rule's consumer shopping requirements.

Conclusions

A deeper understanding of the realities of operationalizing price transparency policy for hospitals is needed to improve its impact.