bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cauchy problem for the 3D Poisson equation: Landweber iteration vs. horizontally diagonalize and fit method
Authors: Botchev Mikhail A. , Kabanikhin Sergey I. , Shishlenin Maxim A. , Tyrtyshnikov Eugene E.
Published: January 2023

The horizontally diagonalize and fit (HDF) method is proposed to solve the ill-posed Cauchy problem for the three-dimensional Poisson equation with data given on the part of the boundary (a continuation problem). The HDF method consists in discretization over horizontal variables and transformation of the system of differential equations to a diagonal form. This allows to uncouple the original three-dimensional continuation problem into a moderate number of one-dimensional problems
in the vertical dimension. The problem size reduction can be carried taking into account the noise
level, so that the number k of one-dimensional problems appears to be a regularization parameter.
Our experiments show that HDF is applicable to large-scale problems and for

n
≤
2500

{n\leq 2500}

is significantly more efficient than Landweber iteration.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[[μ
2-1,3-bis[(1H-imidazol-1- yl)methyl]benzene-N:N′]-(μ
2–D–camphorato-O, O′: O″, O‴)cadmium(II)], C48H56Cd2N8O8
Authors: Sun Hong-Shun
Published: January 2023

C48H56Cd2N8O8, monoclinic, P21 (no. 4), a = 10.7150(6) Å, b = 15.5902(8) Å, c = 14.3463(7) Å, β = 91.032(2)°, V = 2396.1(2) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0504, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1339, T = 173 K.
La ocupación franco-mexicana de la ciudad de Aguascalientes por las guerrillas El Gallo y Sierra Fría, diciembre de 1863
Authors: Carlos Gómez Víctor Manuel
Published: January 2023

En diciembre de 1863, las guerrillas reaccionarias El Gallo y Sierra Fría ocuparon la capital de Aguascalientes de forma pacífica y la entregaron al General Bazaine, para ponerla bajo autoridad francesa. En el artículo se describe la estrategia de desgaste económico y político que esas fuerzas rebeldes ejecutaron para que el gobierno estatal la abandonara sin hacer resistencia. Se explica que bandas de asaltantes con intenciones políticas comenzaron a desarrollarla y tuvieron éxito porque en el proceso se convirtieron en organizaciones político-militares complejas, capaces de negociar y crear alianzas. Este es un estudio de caso sobre la guerra de intervención francesa a México desde la óptica de las fuerzas armadas conservadoras; específicamente, de un movimiento regional sin plataforma política explícita, que buscó fungir como auxiliar militar del ejército franco-mexicano.
Las vicisitudes de convertirse en maestro: en torno a los exámenes artesanos novohispanos de la Ciudad de México, siglos XVII-XVIII
Authors: Peña Ramírez César Gabriel
Published: January 2023

El presente artículo tiene por objetivo estudiar y describir los procesos y las prácticas artesanas en torno a la examinación gremial. Con base en la historia social, así como la historia y la antropología cultural, se realiza un trabajo de análisis de larga duración referente a las formas de ingreso y egreso de los artesanos, los medios de los que se valieron para controlar la examinación y las formas en que los grupos de artesanos establecieron redes ante las prácticas monopólicas que ejercieron los gremios en la capital de la Nueva España. Este no es un estudio focalizado en un oficio o gremio, ya que las fuentes son heterogéneas; sin embargo, pretende ser una aproximación a las vicisitudes por las que atravesaron los artesanos de manera general por un tiempo prolongado y de manera cotidiana.
Presentación tema central: Institucionalización de las prácticas y terapéuticas médicas en México durante el último tercio del siglo XIX
Authors: Serrano Juárez José Daniel
Published: January 2023

Presentación al Expediente "Institucionalización de las prácticas y terapéuticas médicas en México durante el último tercio del siglo XIX"
La Policía General del Segundo Imperio Mexicano. Una reflexión sobre la influencia de la legislación imperial en la historia de la policía mexicana
Authors: Galindo Domínguez José Antonio
Published: January 2023

Las investigaciones históricas sobre la seguridad han mostrado la necesidad de regresar al pasado para analizar la evolución de los conceptos asociados al cuidado de lo público. Por lo mismo, aún queda mucho por hacer para entender los cambios y las continuidades que han experimentado los organismos estatales encargados de cuidar el orden. En este sentido, el presente ensayo explora de forma particular la experiencia policial del Segundo Imperio Mexicano para comprender cómo las tradiciones locales se fundieron con las experiencias europeas durante la intervención francesa y el imperio de Maximiliano I. Con ello, contribuye a nuestra comprensión histórica de las prácticas de vigilancia y castigo en las sociedades modernas.
La “fiebre de oro” californiana en los puertos del Pacífico mexicano: acercamiento a la dinamización marítima y comercial de unos cuantos años, 1850-1852
Authors: Vázquez Valenzuela David Adán
Published: January 2023

Este artículo analiza el auge de tráfico marítimo en el Pacífico mexicano durante la fiebre de oro. Durante la parte tardía de la década de 1840 y a principios de la de 1850, la cantidad de barcos que fondeaban en el litoral del oeste mexicano se incrementó como consecuencia de la masiva migración que se dio hacia el norte de California. Lo anterior trajo consigo un crecimiento comercial en puertos como Mazatlán, San Blas y Acapulco. El artículo argumenta, no obstante, que dicho auge distó de traer una bonanza permanente para esa zona de México. El empuje de las compañías comerciales de México y Estados Unidos y el rápido posicionamiento de San Francisco como eje comercial pronto inhibieron el incipiente crecimiento en la venta de bienes y las exportaciones.
Fernando Villegas Martínez, La casa de los impíos será destruida pero la tienda de los rectos florecerá. La nacionalización de los bienes de las iglesias en el estado de Zacatecas, 1917-1992
Authors: Arroyo Monsivais Manuel de Jesús
Published: January 2023

Reseña a: Fernando Villegas Martínez, La casa de los impíos será destruida pero la tienda de los rectos florecerá. La nacionalización de los bienes de las iglesias en el estado de Zacatecas, 1917-1992, Zacatecas: Taberna Libraria Editores, 2021, 349 pp.
THE EU – TURKEY MIGRATION DEAL: RESULTS AND PROSPECTS
Authors:   MGIMO University, Krapivina Viktoriia
Published: January 2023

The article analyzes the results of the EU – Turkey migration deal of 2016, which is an example of successful externalization of the problem of border control and refugee maintain. Comparing the terms of the deal with the result of their implementation after 6 years of operation, the author comes to the conclusion that in fact the effect of the deal is reduced to the fulfillment of two of its necessary requirements – EU’s funding for the needs of Syrian refugees and Turkey’s readiness to ensure their maintenance on its territory. The author investigates possible scenarios of Turkey’s behavior in the context of its dissatisfaction with migration cooperation with the EU. Its interests regarding the implementation of agreements on the visa regime, renewal of the Customs Union and accession to the EU are not respected, and Turkey also is being tested by the deterioration of the domestic political situation. It is noted that the influx of refugees from Ukraine in the spring of 2022 finally displaced issues related to the stay of Syrians in Turkey from the European agenda. The author claims that the deal will maintain its status quo despite the fact that the parties evaluate the effectiveness of the agreement differently. This will be facilitated to a greater extent by the readiness of the European Union to continue financing the activity of the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, Ankara’s failed attempt to put pressure on Brussels earlier and the unwillingness of most Syrians to return to their homeland.
FRANCE 2022: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OUTCOME
Authors:   RUDN University, Muravev Yuri , Boldyrev Mark ,   RUDN University
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyse the results of the French parliamentary elections of 12 and 19 June 2022 and their implications for the main political forces involved. The author summarises the results of the 2017–2022 electoral cycle, highlighting the changes that have affected the main incumbent actors. The author analyses separately the impact of the election results on Emmanuel Macron’s presidential bloc, Jean-Luc Melanchon’s bloc NUPES, the Rassemblement Nationale behind Marine Le Pen’s leadership, the Republicans, the Socialists, Eric Zemmour’s Reconquête, etc. The conclusion looks at the prospects for a new tripartite potential government and its sustainability. This year, populist parties collectively received almost 49 per cent of the vote, very close to the figures for the last presidential election. Today, populist movements are closer than ever to becoming the new systemic opposition.
THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENT IN HUNGARY IN CONTEXT OF 2022 ELECTION
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Shishelina Lyubov
Published: January 2023

In the spring of 2022, elections of the country’s President and the State Assembly were held in Hungary, as well as the process of forming a new government was launched. As in other parliamentary republics, the post of President in this situation seems rather ceremonial and not too significant, however, in the modern history of Hungary, the President has more than once played the role of the supreme arbiter and the real leader of the nation. This is due to the peculiarity of the Hungarian electoral system, when the term of office of the President is five years, and the State Assembly is 4 years, as a result of which the branches of government have repeatedly represented different political forces, allowing to resolve the main contradictions in the corridors of power without bringing discord to the streets. It also strengthened the democratic political system in the country, constantly reminding voters of freedom of choice, views, opinions. A special mark in the history of the country was left by the presidents of the first, most difficult years of transition, who had not only to cooperate with opponents from parliament. In their service, they managed to invest the creative potential, beliefs and principles achieved by some in writing, by others in science. The current President of Hungary, Katalin Novák, not yet possessing the above qualities, but being undoubtedly a comprehensively well-educated person, became the first woman in this post in Hungarian history, as well as the youngest president of the country. She expressed the main principles and tasks of her upcoming ministry at the highest state post in her ceremonial speech on May 14, focusing not only on long-term prospects, but also on the current international moment.
«STRESS-TEST» OF MANUFACTURING VALUE CHAINS IN EUROPE
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vasilchenko Alexander
Published: January 2023

The article dissects the relevant trends characterizing the large EU economies participation in global value chains. The response reactions of large European economies’ participation in manufacturing global value chains to the Global Financial crisis are analyzed. This crisis has been chosen for the analysis owing to several reasons related to the economic nature of the crisis and statistics availability. In the paper three parameters of countries’ participation in value chains – sustainability, adaptivity, and self-sufficiency – have been examined. As a result, it has been revealed that the response reaction to the 2008–2009 crisis uncovered an inadequate sustainability of large European economies’ participation in manufacturing value chains. However, all the countries (namely, Germany, Italy, and France) have demonstrated serious adaptability and self-sufficiency during the crisis. At the same time, the latest crisis challenges the positive role of this adaptation in relation to the current conditions. This way, sustainability and self-sufficiency attributes require further verification with an account of the latest crisis specifics.
TURKISH INFLUENCE ON FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICY OF BULGARIA
Authors:   Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, Podchasov Nikolay
Published: January 2023

The article analyzes the Bulgarian-Turkish relations from the late 2000’s to the early 2020’s. The author insists on the presence of patterns, specific to this stage of bilateral relations. Sofia's readiness to act as a «lobbyist» for Ankara’s interests in the EU is noted. The significant influence of internal political processes in Bulgaria on the nature of its relations with Turkey is emphasized. In particular, the paper indicates a decrease in the level of Bulgarian-Turkish contacts after the end of the period of rule of the party «Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria» (CEDB) in 2021. The important role of the Turkish diaspora in Bulgaria and Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin living in Turkey in the relations between Ankara and Sofia is also recorded. Attention is drawn to the attempts of the Turkish authorities to use these social groups to promote their own goals. The emphasis is placed on the independent behavior of the political elite of the Bulgarian Turks and on their ability to resist the desires of the leadership of the neighboring country, despite the existence of close economic and cultural ties. It is also stated, that there is a causal link between the struggle of the leaders of the Turkish ethnic minority in Bulgaria for their independence from Ankara’s policies and the crisis of Bulgarian-Turkish relations in 2015–2016.
ON THE INTERACTION OF EURO PARTIES WITH PARTIES FROM THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES. PART 5
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Guseletov Boris
Published: January 2023

The article analyzes the cooperation of three pan-European political organizations – the Party of the European Left (PEL), the European Free Alliance (EFA) and the European Christian Political Movement (ECPD) – with their partners in the countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine). All these European parties, since 2014, have sought to establish cooperation with ideologically close parties from these countries and even accepted them into their ranks as full members. The profiles of these organizations and their leaders, the results of participation in national parliamentary, presidential and local elections, interaction with other political forces of their countries on the formation of electoral and ruling coalitions were studied. The main provisions of their program documents, which reflect the pro-European choice, as well as press releases and statements by the leaders of the PEL, the EFA and the ECPM, concerning the situation in the countries participating in the Eastern Partnership, are given. It is shown that all three European parties supported this program and their partners, regardless of their electoral results. It is noted that in Belarus and Moldova, the local PEL member parties, and in Ukraine, the ECPM member party initially achieved good results in national and local elections, but in recent years most of them have found themselves on the political periphery. The reasons for this phenomenon vary from country to country. Nevertheless, European leftists, Regionalists and Christian Democrats are confident that as the situation stabilizes, issues of social justice, strengthening sovereignty and preserving traditional values will return to the political agenda and become in demand again. It was noted that two more European parties, Identity and Democracy and the European Democratic Party, which have official registration in the EU, currently have no ties with parties from the Eastern Partnership member countries.
MIDDLE EAST ECHO OF THE EUROPEAN WAR. PART I. INTERMEDIARIES
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Shumilin Alexander
Published: January 2023

The article examines reasons for the increased «concern» of the states of the Middle East about what is happening around Ukraine. At the official level, they declare their neutrality and noninterference in the conflict, although some of them supply military equipment and ammunition to one of the warring parties. Under the current conditions, the Middle Eastern states are primarily concerned about their own security to a much greater extent than the countries of other regions, since over the past decades, the growth of tension between the USSR/Russia and the West has often been directly projected onto the Middle East, leading to a surge of confrontation between its main players. The concern of the states of the region with what is happening around Ukraine is connected not only with fears that a European war could «revive» muted conflicts in Syria, Libya, Yemen, increase tension in the Persian Gulf, but also with their involvement in global processes both in the sphere of economy and politics. For example, the latest moves by oil-exporting countries to protect their interests in the energy market are often interpreted in the West as «assistance to Russia». This forces some countries in the region to emphasize their neutrality with political gestures – such as voting in international organizations against the Russian Federation. The elites of a number of Arab states in these conditions are trying to offer intermediary services to Russia and Ukraine. Below we consider the reasons for such an approach to the crisis in Europe by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
RESEARCH COOPERATION OF THE VISEGRAD COUNTRIES: OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT
Authors:   Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chetverikova Anna
Published: January 2023

The article is devoted to the research and innovation potential of the Visegrad countries. The main components of innovative development, its dynamics and existing problems are analyzed, among which difficulties with human resources, financing, intellectual property are relevant. Main directions of specialization of the Visegrad research & development sector, including technical and natural sciences, are shown. International cooperation is considered from the point of view of migration of scientific personnel, joint projects, key partner countries. Research cooperation within the Visegrad Group is evaluated. The importance of pan-European financing for the development of the research and innovation potential of the «four» members is considered. Special attention is paid to the peculiarities, structure and dynamic of high-tech export of the Visegrad countries. The analysis carried out allows us to conclude that the Czech Republic will preserve its leading position in the innovation sector in the Group. In turn Hungary due to the existing restriction most likely will not be able to reach the Czech level in the near future. Lagging behind Slovakia and Poland will develop within the framework of different trends: Slovakia – oriented to the Visegrad region, Poland – in more diversified directions.
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ITALY 2022: LEADERS AND IDEAS
Authors:   MGIMO University, Maslova Elena
Published: January 2023

The paper attempts to give an idea of the Italian political scene on the eve and after the extraordinary parliamentary elections in September 2022. The causes of the political crisis are analyzed and it is pointed out that by the level of political tension and intensity the elections in 2022 can be compared with the first parliamentary elections in the country in 1948. In the course of the election campaign political opponents of the centre-right coalition used the tools of labeling, the main of which were «friends of Putin», «populist», «neofascist». The article analyses these discursive techniques, and concludes that the left-wing forces in modern Italy, first of all the Democratic Party, are in a crisis, both in terms of ideology and leadership. The programme of the centre-right coalition and its ideas are considered separately; it is pointed out that the document contains a lot of «left» proposals related to the social support of citizens. The author analyses the reasons for the victory of the centre-right coalition and, in particular, of G. Meloni, highlighting the high social demand for change as the main factor behind the victory of the «Brothers of Italy».
FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CENTRAL EUROPE COUNTRIES: 30 YEARS LATER
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Shishelina Lyubov
Published: January 2023

30 years have passed since the full-scale renewal of relations between Russia and the countries of Central (at that time Eastern) Europe. With an error of one year plus/minus, in 1991, 1992 and 1993, fundamentally new agreements on friendship and cooperation were signed, designed for a long-term perspective and the possibility of bringing relations to a new denominator. Unfortunately, the period of ideological renewal turned out to be short-lived, taking place against the background of the deterioration of economic relations until the mid-1990-ies and in the end, it ran into a wall of lack of strategic vision in rapidly changing international realities and a narrowing space of mutual understanding. Even the exceptional pragmatism of relations with which Russia emerged from Medvedev’s presidency and after Putin’s Munich speech did not save these relations from almost complete destruction, where the years superimposed on the Covid-19 epidemic turned out to be particularly catastrophic and the battle with the Sputnik vaccine was followed by very real hostilities.
FRENCH ELECTIONS 2022: FEATURES, RESULTS, CONSEQUENCES
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Rubinskiy Yuri , Fedorov Sergey ,   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: January 2023

The article analyzes the results of the presidential and parliamentary elections in France in 2022, which took place in specific conditions caused by the increase in energy and socio-economic problems in the country against the background of military operations in Ukraine. Despite the re-election of President E. Macron for a second term, the loss of an absolute pro-government majority in the National Assembly (the lower house of the French Parliament) following the parliamentary elections significantly complicated the implementation of his election program. In particular, the inability, as before, to constantly use article 49-3 of the Constitution of the country to adopt laws, in fact contrary to the opinion of deputies, required the President and the government to start searching for compromises and possible allies, as well as adjusting the political course. However, the significant strengthening of non-systemic political forces in the lower house of Parliament – the far-left «Unconquered France» and, especially, the far-right «National Association», the reluctance of the «Republicans» to enter into a coalition with the presidential majority complicates the plans of the Head of State. The prospects of further evolution of the country’s party-political system, as well as the preparation of the main political forces of the country for the next electoral cycle of 2027 are considered.
NEW ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PEOPLE’S UNION AS A LIFELINE FOR THE FRENCH LEFT
Authors:   Petr Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Kaninskaya Galina
Published: January 2023

The article is devoted to the unification of the leading left parties of France: Socialist (SP), Communist (FCP), Europe Ecology – The Greens (EEG), France Unbowed (FU) – on the eve of the parliamentary elections on June 12 and 19, 2022, into a single alliance, called New Ecological and Social People’s Union (NESPU). It is analyzed to what extent the efforts made by the leaders of the leading left political forces corresponded to the aspirations of the left electorate. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical provisions of the program adopted by the NESPU, it was educed to what extent the strategy adopted by the Union corresponded to the individual programmes of the parties and what the coalition participants failed to agree on. The socio-cultural section of the NESPU electorate is considered separately. The results of the parliamentary elections for the NESPU are analyzed, the speeches of the deputies of the parties belonging to the Union in parliament on the most important issues of the financial policy of the government of E. Macron for 2023 are shown, and the fault lines between the participants of the NESPU are marked. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the newly created coalition of leftist political parties as a whole, despite the considerable differences in political courses, still manages to maintain unity, following the chosen strategy of free voting.
THE PAN-EUROPEAN AGENDA IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN FRANCE
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Guseletov Boris
Published: January 2023

The article presents an analysis of the results of the parliamentary elections held in France in June 2022 and analyzes the program positions of the leading political forces of France that took part in them on pan-European topics. It is shown that the ruling coalition, which unites parties that were loyal to the incumbent President E. Macron, expressed full support for a united Europe in their election program. The coalition of leftists, socialists and environmentalists led by J.-L. Melenchon regarding the European Union is divided. Melenchon’s left-wing radicals took a rather critical position on this issue, while socialists and environmentalists remained moderately skeptical, generally supporting the need to preserve the European Union. M. Le Pen’s National Unification party was extremely disapproving of united Europe, but at the same time refused to form a coalition with the right-wing party of E. Zemmour, who was most negatively disposed towards the EU. It is noted that the 10 factions formed in the French Parliament following the results of these elections represent the entire spectrum of possible relations to the European Union: from full support to sharp denial, which will undoubtedly make it difficult for E. Macron to pursue a proEuropean policy based on the French parliament, which he constantly declares.
STATE AID TO THE EU ECONOMY BEFORE AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kondratieva Natalia
Published: January 2023

The article gives an idea about the volume of companies subsidizing in the EU. The characteristics of the last decade are revealed: stable growth, which led to a doubling of government aid spending, then a huge surge at the end of the period under review due to the COVID-19 crisis. The types of assistance are described, as well as the conditions under which it can be provided from state budgets according to the Temporary Anti-Crisis Program of the EU, put into effect in March 2022 in connection with Russia’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine and allowing additional state subsidies. Significant differences between EU countries in the level of state support of the national economy are shown. It shows also the active use of state support as a tool for influencing the economy by large European countries: Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, as well as a noticeable increase in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Against this background, the forecast of further deepening of cross-country imbalances in the EU is given. The modern role of the European Commission in the control of state support is revealed: once the guardian of fair competition, which does not recognize state interference in market relations, and now the conductor of state subsidies to the economy, distorting the normal course of competition.
RESULTS OF 2022: GERMAN ECONOMY ON THE VERGE OF DEINDUSTRIALISATION?
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Belov Vladislav
Published: January 2023

In 2022, the German economy was affected by three crises, pandemic, energy and geopolitical. The last two increased significantly in the spring due to the sharp conflict over Ukraine. The result was a further increase in world energy prices, the persistence of transport and logistics problems, gaps in value chains, and a shortage of important components. This led to the deepening of existing and the emergence of new problems in the sectors of the German manufacturing industry – the basis of Germany’s merchandise exports and imports, which traditionally determine the main quantitative parameters of its GDP. Despite the active intervention of the state in economic and political processes and the provision of large-scale financial assistance to economic entities and households, many of them, due to sharply increased prices, especially for gas and electricity, found themselves in a difficult situation. First of all, companies in energy-intensive industries were at risk of stopping production and possible bankruptcy. The uncertainty of the further development of the situation in the economy prompted the leadership of some of the players, incl. leaders, to raise the question of the need to search for new places of production and transfer a number of their enterprises to them. The United States remained one of the most attractive economic and political spaces (economic standards), whose leadership in the second half of 2022 adopted two major business support programs that further increased the attractiveness of American markets for German and European firms. Under these conditions, politicians, experts and entrepreneurs of Germany started talking about the risks of deindustrialisation of the domestic economy and a further decrease in the competitiveness of the German standard. In this context, the author analyzes the economic results of the year of the leader of the European Union, assesses the mentioned risks and gives a forecast for 2023.
A REBIRTH OF THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL COMMUNITY?
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Potemkina Olga
Published: January 2023

The article addresses a new birth of the European Political Community (EPC) concept, which was proposed by the President of France in May 2022, and its implementation. The author traces evolution of the idea since the birth of the European Communities and F. Mitterand’s «European Confederation» and notes the modern interest for the possibilities of creating an organization with a greater political and geographical scope than the European Union. The article examines the proposals of E. Macron, and that of Ch. Michel, the President of the European Council, who took up the initiative, on the EPC participants, the new Community’s goals and objectives, its institutional architecture and the difference from the EU neighborhood policy. Particular attention is paid to the problem of possible duplication by the EPC of the other organizations’ functions – the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO. The author dwells on the inaugural meeting of the EPC participants – the summit in Prague on October 6, 2022. It is noted that at the summit, some practical actions were taken in the direction of future «project lines» in the field of energy, mobility, protection of critical infrastructures and repelling cyber attacks, as well as bilateral meetings were held. However, the absence of a joint declaration as the main result of the meeting indicates the vulnerability of the new organization to the disagreements of its members.
UK ENERGY SECURITY STRATEGY
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Okhoshin Oleg
Published: January 2023

The West’s sanctions, imposed on Russia in the wake of her special operation in Ukraine, have led to the aggravation of the global energy crisis. In April 2022, the Johnson government published the Energy Security Strategy in order to increase Britain’s independence from energy imports through intensive development of its own energy sector. The country plans to accelerate the introduction of new nuclear technologies and renewable energy sources, as well as increase the production of hydrocarbons in the North Sea. The UK has proposed to the EU to introduce a cap on prices for Russian oil and gas. Sanctions against Russia have entered a new phase – the gradual ban on import of her hydrocarbons. On August 10, the UK government completely banned the import of Russian coal, and by the end of 2022 plans to stop importing Russian oil. At the G7 summit on October 11, 2022, UK PM L. Truss demanded to tighten pressure on Russia turn the G7 into an «economic NATO». Under these conditions, the country will face a fuel shortage that will destabilize its economy, and the «Energy Security Strategy» will be fraught with serious financial and technical difficulties that the Government of R. Sunak will not be able to overcome, causing social unrest.
Gender Impacts the Relationship between Mood Disorder Symptoms and Effortful Avoidance Performance
Authors: Forys Brandon J. , Tomm Ryan J. , Stamboliyska Dayana , Terpstra Alex R. , Clark Luke , Chakrabarty Trisha , Floresco Stan B. , Todd Rebecca M.
Published: January 2023

We must often decide how much effort to exert or withhold to avoid undesirable outcomes or obtain rewards. In depression and anxiety, levels of avoidance can be excessive and reward-seeking may be reduced. Yet outstanding questions remain about the links between motivated action/inhibition and anxiety and depression levels, and whether they differ between men and women. Here, we examined the relationship between anxiety and depression scores, and performance on effortful active and inhibitory avoidance (Study 1) and reward seeking (Study 2) in humans. Undergraduates and paid online workers (NAvoid= 545,NReward= 310;NFemale= 368,NMale= 450,MAge= 22.58,RangeAge= 17–62) were assessed on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and performed an instructed online avoidance or reward-seeking task. Participants had to make multiple presses on active trials and withhold presses on inhibitory trials to avoid an unpleasant sound (Study 1) or obtain points toward a monetary reward (Study 2). Overall, men deployed more effort than women in both avoidance and reward-seeking, and anxiety scores were negatively associated with active reward-seeking performance based on sensitivity scores. Gender interacted with anxiety scores and inhibitory avoidance performance, such that women with higher anxiety showed worse avoidance performance. Our results illuminate effects of gender in the relationship between anxiety and depression levels and the motivation to actively and effortfully respond to obtain positive and avoid negative outcomes.
Cortical Parvalbumin-Positive Interneuron Development and Function Are Altered in the APC Conditional Knockout Mouse Model of Infantile and Epileptic Spasms Syndrome
Authors: Ryner Rachael F. , Derera Isabel D. , Armbruster Moritz , Kansara Anar , Sommer Mary E. , Pirone Antonella , Noubary Farzad , Jacob Michele , Dulla Chris G.
Published: January 2023

Infantile and epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a childhood epilepsy syndrome characterized by infantile or late-onset spasms, abnormal neonatal EEG, and epilepsy. Few treatments exist for IESS, clinical outcomes are poor, and the molecular and circuit-level etiologies of IESS are not well understood. Multiple human IESS risk genes are linked to Wnt/β-catenin signaling, a pathway that controls developmental transcriptional programs and promotes glutamatergic excitation via β-catenin’s role as a synaptic scaffold. We previously showed that deleting adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), a component of the β-catenin destruction complex, in excitatory neurons (APC cKO mice, APCfl/flx CaMKIIαCre) increased β-catenin levels in developing glutamatergic neurons and led to infantile behavioral spasms, abnormal neonatal EEG, and adult epilepsy. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the development of GABAergic interneurons (INs) is disrupted in APC cKO male and female mice. IN dysfunction is implicated in human IESS, is a feature of other rodent models of IESS, and may contribute to the manifestation of spasms and seizures. We found that parvalbumin-positive INs (PV+INs), an important source of cortical inhibition, were decreased in number, underwent disproportionate developmental apoptosis, and had altered dendrite morphology at P9, the peak of behavioral spasms. PV+INs received excessive excitatory input, and their intrinsic ability to fire action potentials was reduced at all time points examined (P9, P14, P60). Subsequently, GABAergic transmission onto pyramidal neurons was uniquely altered in the somatosensory cortex of APC cKO mice at all ages, with both decreased IPSC input at P14 and enhanced IPSC input at P9 and P60. These results indicate that inhibitory circuit dysfunction occurs in APC cKOs and, along with known changes in excitation, may contribute to IESS-related phenotypes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTInfantile and epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) is a devastating epilepsy with limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. The molecular, cellular, and circuit disruptions that cause infantile spasms and seizures are largely unknown, but inhibitory GABAergic interneuron dysfunction has been implicated in rodent models of IESS and may contribute to human IESS. Here, we use a rodent model of IESS, the APC cKO mouse, in which β-catenin signaling is increased in excitatory neurons. This results in altered parvalbumin-positive GABAergic interneuron development and GABAergic synaptic dysfunction throughout life, showing that pathology arising in excitatory neurons can initiate long-term interneuron dysfunction. Our findings further implicate GABAergic dysfunction in IESS, even when pathology is initiated in other neuronal types.
Morphology, Connectivity, and Encoding Features of Tactile and Motor Representations of the Fingers in the Human Precentral and Postcentral Gyrus
Authors: Mastria Giulio , Scaliti Eugenio , Mehring Carsten , Burdet Etienne , Becchio Cristina , Serino Andrea , Akselrod Michel
Published: January 2023

Despite the tight coupling between sensory and motor processing for fine manipulation in humans, it is not yet totally clear which specific properties of the fingers are mapped in the precentral and postcentral gyrus. We used fMRI to compare the morphology, connectivity, and encoding of the motor and tactile finger representations (FRs) in the precentral and postcentral gyrus of 25 5-fingered participants (8 females). Multivoxel pattern and structural and functional connectivity analyses demonstrated the existence of distinct motor and tactile FRs within both the precentral and postcentral gyrus, integrating finger-specific motor and tactile information. Using representational similarity analysis, we found that the motor and tactile FRs in the sensorimotor cortex were described by the perceived structure of the hand better than by the actual hand anatomy or other functional models (finger kinematics, muscles synergies). We then studied a polydactyly individual (i.e., with a congenital 6-fingered hand) showing superior manipulation abilities and divergent anatomic-functional hand properties. The perceived hand model was still the best model for tactile representations in the precentral and postcentral gyrus, while finger kinematics better described motor representations in the precentral gyrus. We suggest that, under normal conditions (i.e., in subjects with a standard hand anatomy), the sensorimotor representations of the 5 fingers in humans converge toward a model of perceived hand anatomy, deviating from the real hand structure, as the best synthesis between functional and structural features of the hand.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDistinct motor and tactile finger representations exist in both the precentral and postcentral gyrus, supported by a finger-specific pattern of anatomic and functional connectivity across modalities. At the representational level, finger representations reflect the perceived structure of the hand, which might result from an adapting process harmonizing (i.e., uniformizing) the encoding of hand function and structure in the precentral and postcentral gyrus. The same analyses performed in an extremely rare polydactyly subject showed that the emergence of such representational geometry is also found in neuromechanical variants with different hand anatomy and function. However, the harmonization process across the precentral and postcentral gyrus might not be possible because of divergent functional-structural properties of the hand and associated superior manipulation abilities.
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS ON ANTHOCYANIN PROFILE OF MERLOT RED WINES
Authors: GEÇER Esma Nur , ANLI Ertan
Published: January 2023

Grape variety and health, soil and climate, agricultural techniques used, winemaking processes, storage time and temperature are the most important agents in the phenolic content of red wine. In this study, the effects of storage temperature and time on the distribution of anthocyanin compounds, and the total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA) content of Merlot wines were investigated at the beginning of storage and the following quarterly periods. The amount and distribution of delphinidin 3-glucoside, pelargonin 3-glucoside, malvidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin 3-glucoside anthocyanins in wine samples were defined quantitatively by modifying HPLC method. When the change in TMA content in wines was evaluated, it was determined that there was a decrease of 13.77% at 4-5 °C, 24.28% at 8-10 °C, 43.93% at 12-14 °C, and 66.29% at 18-20 °C compared to the values before storage at the last of 24 months of storage.
Cuba’s Pandemic Crisis
Authors: Bastian Hope
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded a crisis of legitimacy for Cuba’s first leader of the post-Castro era. The initial pandemic response, relying on lockdowns, was effective but worsened the country’s economic problems. Then a wave of infections driven by a new variant of the virus overwhelmed the celebrated public health system. Instead of acknowledging citizens’ sacrifices and grievances, the government has sought to discredit dissent. But there have been protests of unprecedented scale, and hundreds of thousands of Cubans have left the country since the borders reopened in late 2021.
The Rebels Who Fought Mexican and US Oppression
Authors: Alonso Alexandra Délano
Published: January 2023

In 2022, Mexico commemorated the centenary of the death of Ricardo Flores Magón, whose work with his brothers as newspaper publishers and leaders of a political movement helped bring about the fall of a Mexican dictator. Their cross-border activities also challenged white supremacy in the United States.
Inflammation-based scores as predictors of treatment response in advanced adrenocortical carcinoma
Authors: Mangone Alessandra , Altieri Barbara , Detomas Mario , Prete Alessandro , Abbas Haider , Asia Miriam , Elhassan Yasir S , Mantovani Giovanna , Ronchi Cristina L
Published: January 2023

Treatment for advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) consists of mitotane alone or combined with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (EDP). Although both therapies are widely used, markers of response are still lacking. Since inflammation-based scores have been proposed as prognostic factors in ACC, we aimed to investigate their role in predicting the response to first-line chemotherapy.

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with advanced ACC treated with mitotane monotherapy or EDP ± mitotane. Clinical parameters (tumour stage at diagnosis, resection status, Ki67, time from diagnosis to treatment start, performance status, plasma mitotane levels, time in mitotane target ≥ 80%, clinically overt cortisol hypersecretion), and pretreatment inflammation-based scores (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) were investigated. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and time-to-progression (TTP) from treatment initiation, the secondary endpoint was the best objective response to treatment.

We included 90 patients (59% = women, median age = 51 years) treated with mitotane monotherapy (n = 40) or EDP ± mitotane (n = 50). In the mitotane monotherapy cohort, NLR ≥ 5 and PLR ≥ 190 predicted shorter OS (hazard ratio (HR): 145.83, 95% CI: 1.87–11,323.83; HR: 165.50, 95% CI: 1.76–15,538.04, respectively), remaining significant at multivariable analysis including clinical variables. NLR was also associated with shorter TTP (HR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.28–5.20), but only at univariable analysis. Patients with NLR ≥ 5 showed a worse treatment response than those with NLR < 5 (P = 0.040). In the EDP ± mitotane cohort, NLR ≥ 5 predicted shorter OS (HR: 2.52, 95% CI: 1.30–4.88) and TTP (HR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.04–3.66) at univariable analysis.

In conclusion, inflammation-based scores, calculated from routinely measured parameters, may help predict response to chemotherapy in advanced ACC.
How to Help Special Education Students?
Authors: Cheng Xiaoqiao
Published: January 2023

According to UNICEF’s report, there are approximately 240 million disabled children in the world. They are typically in a disadvantaged position in terms of health, education, and safety, compared with their normal peers (UNICEF, 2021). By the end of 2018, there were 1045038 registered disabled kids aged 0-14 in China, accounting for roughly 3% of the total population with impairments (Chen, 2020). Such a huge number involves millions of families, who deserve the concern and support of the whole society.
The Development of Mathematical Model Consciousness in Junior Secondary Students: A Lesson Study of the Instruction of Congruent Triangles
Authors: Xu Wenjing , Meng Qun
Published: January 2023

The Compulsory Education Course Standards for Mathematics 2022 have highlighted the educational objectives of junior secondary mathematics by emphasizing the development of mathematical competence and practical learning. Model consciousness, as one of the fundamental mathematical competencies to be developed at the junior secondary level, can facilitate students’ comprehension of the universal application of mathematics. Teachers of mathematics in junior high school should construct effective classroom activities based on the cognitive qualities of their students in order to enhance their mathematical model consciousness and comprehension of the substance of mathematics knowledge. This paper is a lesson study of the education of Congruent Triangles, and its purpose is to investigate strategies for fostering mathematical model consciousness among junior high school pupils.
Examination of the Views of Science Teachers Trained in a Project on Socioscientific Issues
Authors: Tekin Nurcan , Aslan Oktay , Keleş Özgül
Published: January 2023

Socioscientific issues (SSIs) have a scientific basis, have a dilemma in their nature and are often discussed under political and social influences. Teachers perceive SSIs as a difficult subject to teach. This project was carried out to guide teachers in overcoming this difficulty and to enable them to include practices that they can adapt more easily to their lessons. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the views of science teachers on the teaching of SSIs and the project carried out within the scope of a funding project for teaching SSIs. The study was designed according to a single-group pre-test post-test experimental design. The study group the study comprises teachers from different branches of science (15 middle school science teachers, four biology teachers, three physics teachers and two chemistry teachers) from various provinces of Türkiye. As the data collection tools of the study, the Project Participation Form, the Scale of Views on Teaching Socioscientific Issues, the Know-Want-Learn Form and the Project Evaluation Form were used. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were used together in the evaluation of the data. Because of the study, the implemented project activities contributed to the development of the participants’ views on the teaching of SSIs and caused a positive development in their views on the project. Suggestions were made considering the results of the project so that guidance could be provided for teachers and teacher educators.