Is there a bias towards elected actors in media coverage of policy-making in European metropolitan areas?

Metropolitan areas are a typical and increasingly discussed example for fragmented governance lacking clear accountability structures. While most of the literature has focused on the legitimacy of institutions and actors so far, we add a communicational dimension to democratic accountability. In this regard we argue that public accountability/ or accountability through the mass media has become a democratic standard that can be measured/ analyzed. Comparing two types of metropolitan governance in four countries, we test a theoretical and an empirical hypothesis regarding media’s ability to be a forum for public accountability. First, we argue that the media points out who is responsible for policy decisions in a way that mirrors governance structures. By pointing out who is responsible for policy making processes, public accountability reduces the complexity of network governance and actors can be held accountable. Second, however, we expect that the media are biased in focusing more on elected actors because due to their institutional/ political accountability they are more visible and thus easier to be held accountable. Analysing newspaper content data, we come to a mixed conclusion. While both elected and non-elected policy-actors are visible in the media, elected actors are more often attributed with responsibility and blamed than they are actually responsible. Unelected actors are not only outside of the chain of delegation in governance structures, they are also less in the focus of public control. Hence, although non-elected actors are less in the focus of public control, the mass media compensate their institutional lack of accountability by holding them accountable in public

The communicational dimension of democratic accountability in metropolitan governance: Media reporting and perceived legitimacy in four European cities

As cities grow and expand, complex network governance (advocated by the so-called ‘new regionalism’) is increasingly important for policy-making in metropolitan areas. These arrangements have often been criticised as a threat to legitimacy, as they involve a wide array of policy-actors and blurrs and dilute electoral accountability. This paper focuses on the communicational dimension of democratic accountability in metropolitan governance, by exploring the role of the media. We use data from a standardized content analysis of newspaper coverage on metropolitan policy-making in four European mega- and metacities (Paris, London, Berlin and Zurich) and examine their relationship to legitimacy perceptions at the individual level on the basis of survey data. We find that institutional differences in metropolitan governance are quite adequately reflected in media reports. The results also show that media content indeed is correlated with citizen perceptions of legitimacy, i.e. trust in government as well as satisfaction with democracy. We therefore interpret the media as an additional - communicational – channel of democratic accountability in metropolitan governance

Oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols to aldehydes and carboxylic acids

An oxidation of allylic and benzylic alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids is effected by merging a Cu-catalyzed oxidation using O2 as a terminal oxidant with a subsequent chlorite oxidation (Lindgren oxidation). The protocol was optimized to obtain pure products without chromatography or crystallization. Interception at the aldehyde stage allowed for Z/E-isomerization, thus rendering the oxidation stereoconvergent with respect to the configuration of the starting material

Transannular bovine jugular vein monocusp for the reconstruction of severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction

OBJECTIVE Severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in tetralogy of Fallot and variants necessitates the use of transannular patch in a significant proportion of children undergoing repair. We have used a Contegra monocusp together with delamination of native leaflet tissue in order to create a functioning pulmonary valve. METHODS In total, 18 (2017-2022) consecutive Contegra monocusp implantations were included. Median age and weight were 3.65 [2.00; 9.43] months and 6.12 [4.30; 8.22] kg, respectively. Nine of 18 patients had undergone palliation. Native pulmonary leaflet tissue was recruited to create a single posterior cusp. Contegra monocusp selection was based on the goal to achieve a neoannulus of Z value ≈ 0. Monocusp sizes implanted were 16 [14; 18] mm. Patch plasty of left pulmonary artery (LPA) (9), right pulmonary artery (RPA) (2), and both LPA-RPA (5) were often performed. RESULTS All patients survived the operation and were discharged home in good health. Median ventilation time and hospital stay were 2 [1; 9] and 12.5 [9; 54] days, respectively. Follow-up duration was 30.68 [3.47; 60.47] months and 100% complete. One patient with well-corrected right ventricular outflow tract died 9.4 months postoperatively, possibly of aspiration. One child with membranous pulmonary atresia needed reoperation (conduit insertion) at 3.5 months of follow-up. Five needed catheter interventions: supravalvar stent (2), LPA stent (3), and RPA stent (1), most of them in the earlier half of the experience. Pulmonary annulus changed from preoperative -3.91 [-5.98; -2.23] to -0.10 [-1.44; 1.92] at discharge; growing proportionally to -0.13 [-3.52; 2.73] at follow-up. Kaplan-Meier freedom from composite dysfunction was 79.25 (95% confidence interval, +13.68%, -31.44%) at 36 months. CONCLUSIONS Recruitment of native leaflets, optimal Contegra monocusp, and commissuroplasty provide an easily replicable technique for achieving a competent, proportionally growing neopulmonary valve. Longer follow-up is needed to determine its impact on delaying a pulmonary valve replacement

Interpenetrating Self-Supporting Networks from Anisotropic Semiconductor Nanoparticles and Noble Metal Nanowires

In this work, a new type of multicomponent nanostructures is introduced by forming interpenetrating networks of two different nanomaterials. In detail, gel networks from semiconductor nanorods are interpenetrated by Au nanowires. Two different types of gelling agents, namely S2− and Yb3+, are employed to trigger the network formation. The structural and electrochemical properties of the resulting materials are discussed. (Photo)electrochemical measurements are performed on the structures to compare the materials in terms of their conductivity as well as their efficiency in converting photonic energy to electrical energy. The new type of CdSe/CdS:Au nanostructure gelled with S2− shows one order of magnitude higher photocurrent than the system gelled with Yb3+. Moreover, the introduction of Au nanowires exhibit a photocurrent which is two orders of magnitudes higher than in samples without Au nanowires

Crossed intramolecular Rauhut−Currier-type reactions via dienamine activation

Trabajo presentado como póster al 3.Tag der Chemie celebrado en Dortmund (Alemania) en 2010.The intramolecular Rauhut−Currier reaction creates a carbon−carbon bond between two tethered Michael acceptors. Previous asymmetric versions have relied on 1,4-additions of chiral nucleophilic catalysts. Herein, we investigate a novel strategy that involves the formation of electron rich dienamines as key intermediates. Our methodology provides an efficient entry to the iridoid framework.Financial support was provided by the DFG (SPP1179), the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie (Dozentenstipendium to M. C.), the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (fellowship to E. M.-L.) and the Aragón I+D Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Programa Nacional de Movilidad de Recursos Humanos del Plan Nacional de I-D+I 2008-2011) and CSIC (PIE 200880I260) (R. P. H.).Peer Reviewe

Controlled Morphological Arrangement of Anisotropic Nanoparticles via Oxidation or Ionic Cross-Linking

For a long time, researchers in nanochemistry have been exploring ways to create 3D structures using cross-linked nanoparticles, such as lyogels and aerogels. In the present work, how simple modifications to the nanoparticle surface can be used to influence the resulting structure in a targeted manner is demonstrated. Specifically, positively charged surface ligands containing amine groups are compared to negatively charged ligands typically used, containing carboxylic acid groups, to generate network structures using different gelation agents. By utilizing bridging through S2− ions, a network structure of anisotropic CdSe/CdS nanorods is generated, packing them side by side at the nanoscopic level. The resulting structures exhibit improved fluorescence properties comparable to those of tip-to-tip connected networks but without harsh conditions for the nanoparticle surfaces. This innovative new method of gelation using S2− ions can achieve adequate photoluminescence quantum yields as well as prolonged fluorescence lifetimes compared to other network structures

Leucoencefalite hemorrágica aguda associada à COVID-19

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Impact of biexcitons on the relaxation mechanisms of polaritons in III-nitride based multiple quantum well microcavities

We report on the direct observation of biexcitons in a III nitride based multiple quantum well microcavity operating in the strong light-matter coupling regime by means of nonresonant continuous wave and time-resolved photoluminescence at low temperature. First, the biexciton dynamics is investigated for the bare active medium (multiple quantum wells alone) evidencing localization on potential fluctuations due to alloy disorder and thermalization between both localized and free excitonic and biexcitonic populations. Then, the role of biexcitons is considered for the full microcavity: in particular, we observe that for specific detunings the bottom of the lower polariton branch is directly fed by the radiative dissociation of either cavity biexcitons or excitons mediated by one LO-phonon. Accordingly, minimum polariton lasing thresholds are observed, when the bottom of the lower polariton branch corresponds in energy to the exciton or cavity biexciton first LO-phonon replica. This singular observation highlights the role of excitonic molecules in the polariton condensate formation process as being a more efficient relaxation channel when compared to the usually assumed acoustical phonon emission one.This work was supported by the NCCR Quantum Photonics, research instrument of the Swiss National Science Foundation, through Grant No. 129715 and Grant No. 200020-113542, and by the EU-project Clermont4 (Grant No. FP7-235114)

On the evolution of an ice shelf melt channel at the base of Filchner Ice Shelf, from observations and viscoelastic modeling

Ice shelves play a key role in the stability of the Antarctic Ice Sheet due to their buttressing effect. A loss of buttressing as a result of increased basal melting or ice shelf disintegration will lead to increased ice discharge. Some ice shelves exhibit channels at the base that are not yet fully understood. In this study, we present in situ melt rates of a channel which is up to 330 m high and located in the southern Filchner Ice Shelf. Maximum observed melt rates are 2 m yr−1. Melt rates inside the channel decrease in the direction of ice flow and turn to freezing ∼55 km downstream of the grounding line. While closer to the grounding line melt rates are higher within the channel than outside, this relationship reverses further downstream. Comparing the modeled evolution of this channel under present-day climate conditions over 250 years with its present geometry reveals a mismatch. Melt rates twice as large as the present-day values are required to fit the observed geometry. In contrast, forcing the model with present-day melt rates results in a closure of the channel, which contradicts observations. The ice shelf experiences strong tidal variability in vertical strain rates at the measured site, and discrete pulses of increased melting occurred throughout the measurement period. The type of melt channel in this study diminishes in height with distance from the grounding line and is hence not a destabilizing factor for ice shelves.</p