Russian foreign energy policy conduct in the oil and gas sectors: a case study of the Caspian region 1991-2008

This thesis explores the continuities and change in the conduct of Russian foreign policy in the Caspian region in the period 1991-2008 with the central focus set on the inclusion of energy both as a tool and one of the main targets of Russian foreign policy during the Putin administration. More specifically it looks at the impact that the choice to establish Russia as an energy superpower based mainly on its oil and gas sectors during this period had on the conduct of Russian foreign policy in the Caspian region. The central research question is how Russian oil and gas companies are used as foreign policy tools in the conduct of Russian foreign energy policy within the current foreign energy policy framework and to what end. The argument of this thesis is based on the hypothesis that the Russian state uses its oil and gas companies in order to infiltrate the Central Asian energy markets and assert its economic hegemony in the region through a web of legal and contractual monopolies aiming at maintaining Russia’s economic hegemony in the Caspian and contributing to one of Russia’s main energy policy priority of becoming an influential player in the global energy markets

Introduction

The post-2014 'migrant crisis' focusing mainly on the European Union`s southeast periphery where the so called Balkan Route1 exists, has demonstrated that the degree of integration and solidarity among EU members is not as deep and complete as expected. Attempts to outsource the crisis to its periphery impacted also on the relationship of the Union with EU candidate countries. The lack of a common EU policy and reluctance to share sovereignty became evident among EU members from early on. This has in turn led to a demise in the credibility of the EU, its fundamental principles like solidarity among its member states and protection of human rights, as well as, its institutions. The Erasmus+ Jean Monnet project MIGRATE CTRL + Enter Europe – Jean Monnet Migrant Crisis Network2 looks into the developments in the Balkan Route pre and post the EU-Turkey Statement and the responses by the individual countries inside this framework

Η πιθανή ευεργετική αυξητικών παραγόντων στην επούλωση πειραματικά δημιουργηθείσας και εκταμθείσας ενδομητριωσικής εστίας στο παχύ έντερο επίμυων

Σκοπός: Η αξιολόγηση της πιθανής ευεργετικής δρασης του πλάσματος εμπλουτισμένου με αιμοπετάλια (Platelet rich plasma-PRP) και του συγκολλητικού παράγοντα ινώδους (TISSEEL, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL) στην επούλωση του εντέρου μετά το “ξύρισμα”-εφαπτομενική εκτομή πειραματικά επαγόμενης ενδομητριωτικής εστίας παχέος εντέρου. Σχεδίαση μελέτης: Τυφλή τυχαιοποιημένη πειραματική μελέτη. Ζώα: Τριάντα θήλεις αρουραίοι Sprague-Dawley (SD). Παρεμβάσεις: Επαγωγή πειραματικής ενδομητρίωσης του παχέος εντέρου με αυτόλογη μεταμόσχευση ενδομητρικού ιστού σε όλα τα ζώα (1η χειρουργική επέμβαση). Τριάντα αρουραίοι τυχαιοποιήθηκαν σε 1 από τις 3 ομάδες σύμφωνα με την θεραπευτική παρέμβαση: PRP (ομάδα I, ν = 10), TISSEEL (ομάδα II, n = 10) ή κανένας παράγοντας (ομάδα III, ν=10) εφαρμόστηκαν στην “ξυρισμένη” επιφάνεια του παχέος εντέρου (2η χειρουργική επέμβαση). Μετρήσεις και κύρια αποτελέσματα: Η ενδομητρίωση του παχέος εντέρου επάχθηκε με επιτυχία σε όλα τα ζώα. Τέσσερις ημέρες μετά τη 2η χειρουργική επέμβαση, τα ζώα υπέστησαν ευθανασία και πραγματοποιήθηκε ιστολογική εξέταση. Η ιστολογική εξέταση έδειξε ότι σε σύγκριση με την ομάδα ελέγχου, η εναπόθεση κολλαγόνου βρέθηκε σε σημαντικά υψηλότερη έκφραση τόσο στην ομάδα του PRP όσο και σε αυτή του TISSEEL (p = .011 και p = .011, αντίστοιχα). Η διαταραχή της αρχιτεκτονικής των στιβάδων του παχεός εντέρου ήταν στατιστικά πιο έντονη στην ομάδα ελέγχου συγκριτικά με την ομάδα TISSEEL (p = .033) ενώ παρατηρήθηκε πιο εξεσημασμένος σχηματισμός νέων αιμοφόρων αγγείων στην ομάδα του TISSEEL σε σύγκριση με την ομάδα ελέγχου (p = .023). Δεν ανιχνεύθηκαν ιστολογικές ενδείξεις υπολειμματικής ή υποτροπιάζουσας νόσου. Συμπέρασμα: Τόσο η χρήση του PRP όσο και του TISSEEL φαίνεται να είναι ασφαλής και να σχετίζεται με βελτίωση της επούλωσης των ιστών μετά την αποψίλωση ενδομητριωσικής εστίας παχέος εντέρου, που αποδίδεται στην αυξημένη εναπόθεση κολλαγόνου, στη νεοαγγείωση και την προστασία της ακεραιότητας των στιβάδων του παχέος εντέρου. Στο πεδίο αυτό, κλινικές δοκιμές απαιτούνται για να επιβεβαιώσουν την αποτελεσματικότητα του PRP και του TISSEEL στην κλινική πράξη.Study objective: To examine the potential beneficial effect of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and fibrin sealant (TISSEEL; Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL) on bowel wound healing after shaving of an experimentally induced endometriotic lesion. Design: Single-blind randomized experimental study (Canadian Task Force classification I). Setting: Certified animal research facility. Animals: Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions: Experimental colonic endometriosis was induced by transplanting endometrial tissue to all animals (first surgery). Thirty rats were then randomized to 1 of 3 groups according to treatment: PRP (group I, n = 10), fibrin sealant (group II, n = 10), or no agent (group III, n = 10) was applied after shaving of the endometriotic nodule (second surgery). Measurements and Main Results: Colonic endometriosis was successfully induced in all subjects. Four days following the second surgery, the animals were euthanized, and microscopic evaluation was performed. The pathologist was blinded to the treatment method. Histopathologic analysis revealed that compared with the control group, collagen disposition was found in significantly higher expression in both the PRP and fibrin sealant groups (p = .011 and p = .011, respectively). Distortion of the integrity of the colon layers was statistically more pronounced in the control group compared with the fibrin sealant group (p = .033) while greater new blood vessel formation was observed in the fibrin sealant group compared with control (p = .023). No histologic evidence of residual or recurrent disease was detected. Conclusion: Both PRP and fibrin sealant appear to be safe and associated with improved tissue healing during shaving for the excision of colonic endometriosis, attributed to the enhanced collagen disposition, neovascularization, and protection of the integrity of colon layers. Clinical trials are warranted to confirm the feasibility of PRP and fibrin sealant in the clinical setting

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο μετά τη Συνθήκη της Λισαβόνας: Αποδυναμωμένο ή πιο ισχυρό;

Η ενδυνάμωση του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου (ΕΚ) συνιστά ίσως την πιο εντυπωσιακή εξέλιξη στην ιστορία του θεσμικού συστήματος της ΕΕ. Ξεκινώντας από την υπόθεση ότι η ενίσχυση αυτή συνεχίζεται και μετά τη θέση σε ισχύ της Συνθήκης της Λισαβόνας, εστιάζουμε σε δύο περιπτώσεις μελέτης —στη διαχείριση της κρίσης της ευρωζώνης και στον διορισμό του σημερινού προέδρου της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής— και εξετάζουμε αν οι ενδιάμεσες αλλαγές που έχουν αναδυθεί από αυτές τις περιπτώσεις έχουν μεταβάλει τη θεσμική ισορροπία προς όφελος του ΕΚ. Η μελέτη της πρώτης περίπτωσης δεν επαληθεύει την υπόθεσή μας. Αν και παρατηρείται συγκέντρωση κυριαρχικών δικαιωμάτων σε ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο, η μεν ενίσχυση άλλων θεσμικών δρώντων συνεπάγεται την περιθωριοποίηση του ΕΚ, η δε ενίσχυση της διακυβερνητικής μορφής συνεργασίας, το αποκλείει σχεδόν εξολοκλήρου από τη λήψη των αποφάσεων στον τομέα της οικονομικής διακυβέρνησης. Στη δεύτερη περίπτωση, διαπιστώνεται όντως αναβάθμιση του ρόλου του, αν και το συμπέρασμά μας δεν είναι καταληκτικό, αφού η εδραίωση ή μη αυτής της ενδιάμεσης αλλαγής και ο δυνητικός αντίκτυπός της στη συνταγματική τάξη της Ένωσης, θα εξαρτηθούν εν πολλοίς από τη διαδικασία διορισμού του προέδρου της Επιτροπής που θα εφαρμοστεί μετά τις επόμενες εκλογές.The empowerment of the European Parliament (EP) is probably on the most impressive developments in the history of the European Union’s (EU) institutional system. Our working hypothesis is that its power has continued to grow after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. To test this hypothesis, we focus on two case studies, namely the management of the Eurozone crisis and the appointment of the current President of the European Commission, and we attempt to examine whether the interstitial change that has been generated tilts the institutional balance in favour of the Parliament. The first case study does not support this hypothesis. Despite the pooling of sovereignty at the European level, the strengthening of other institutional actors translates into a marginalization of the EP, while the strengthening of intergovernmentalism as a mode of cooperation excludes it almost entirely from decision-making in economic governance. In the second case study, the EP is indeed invested with a new de facto power, nevertheless our findings are inconclusive, as the formalization of this interstitial change and its potential impact on the EU’s constitutional order will depend to a great extent on the appointment procedure that will be followed after the next European elections

The N Terminus of the Prion Protein Mediates Functional Interactions with the Neuronal Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) Fibronectin Domain

The cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) is a highly conserved glycoprotein mostly expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems by different cell types in mammals. A misfolded, pathogenic isoform, denoted as prion, is related to a class of neurodegenerative diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. PrPC function has not been unequivocally clarified, and it is rather defined as a pleiotropic protein likely acting as a dynamic cell surface scaffolding protein for the assembly of different signaling modules. Among the variety of PrPC protein interactors, the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been studied in vivo, but the structural basis of this functional interaction is still a matter of debate. Here we focused on the structural determinants responsible for human PrPC (HuPrP) and NCAM interaction using stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy, SPR, and NMR spectroscopy approaches. PrPC co-localizes with NCAM in mouse hippocampal neurons, and this interaction is mainly mediated by the intrinsically disordered PrPC N-terminal tail, which binds with high affinity to the NCAM fibronectin type-3 domain. NMR structural investigations revealed surface-interacting epitopes governing the interaction between HuPrP N terminus and the second module of the NCAM fibronectin type-3 domain. Our data provided molecular details about the interaction between HuPrP and the NCAM fibronectin domain, and revealed a new role of PrPC N terminus as a dynamic and functional element responsible for protein-protein interaction

NCAM regulates temporal specification of neural progenitor cells via profilin2 during corticogenesis

The development of cerebral cortex requires spatially and temporally orchestrated proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). The molecular mechanisms underlying cortical development are, however, not fully understood. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been suggested to play a role in corticogenesis. Here we show that NCAM is dynamically expressed in the developing cortex. NCAM expression in NPCs is highest in the neurogenic period and declines during the gliogenic period. In mice bearing an NPC-specific NCAM deletion, proliferation of NPCs is reduced, and production of cortical neurons is delayed, while formation of cortical glia is advanced. Mechanistically, NCAM enhances actin polymerization in NPCs by interacting with actin-associated protein profilin2. NCAM-dependent regulation of NPCs is blocked by mutations in the profilin2 binding site. Thus, NCAM plays an essential role in NPC proliferation and fate decision during cortical development by regulating profilin2-dependent actin polymerization

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised