Straightforward Synthesis of α,β-Unsaturated Thioesters via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Olefin Cross-Metathesis with Thioacrylate

The cross-metathesis reaction of S-ethyl thioacrylate with a variety of olefins is effectively catalyzed by using a ruthenium benzylidene olefin metathesis catalyst. This reaction provides a convenient and versatile route to substituted α,β-unsaturated thioesters, key building blocks in organic synthesis.

Stepping-stones for the unemployed: The effect of temporary jobs on the duration until regular work

Individual labour market transitions from unemployment into temporary work are often succeeded by a transition from temporary into regular work. We investigate whether temporary work increases the transition rate to regular work. In that case, temporary work may enhance labour market efficiency. We use longitudinal survey data of individuals to estimate a multi-state duration model, applying the “timing of events” approach. To deal with selectivity, the model incorporates transitions from unemployment to temporary jobs and unobserved determinants of the transition rates. The data contain multiple spells in labour market states at the individual level. We analyse the results using novel graphical representations. The results unambiguously show that temporary jobs serve as stepping-stones towards regular employment. They shorten the duration of unemployment and they substantially increase the fraction of unemployed workers who have regular work within a few years after entry into unemployment, as compared to a situation without temporary jobs.Unemployment; fixed term contracts; temporary work; job search; duration model; treatment effect

Synthesis of Optically Active Bifunctional Building Blocks through Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation Using Grignard Reagents

Enantioselective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylations were performed on allylic bromides with a protected hydroxyl or amine functional group using several Grignard reagents and Taniaphos L1 as a ligand. The terminal olefin moiety in the products was transformed into various functional groups without racemization, providing facile access to a variety of versatile bifunctional chiral building blocks.

Examining Women’s Experiences on the Campaign Trail: Campaign Ethnographies in the 2023 Dutch Provincial Elections. A Pilot Study for TWICEASGOOD

This is the final versionLocal elections are an important feature of the electoral calendar. They provide an opportunity for voters to express preferences for local leaders, to hold incumbent councils and councilors accountable and they can also serve as referendums on the national government. To be a candidate in a local election requires a great deal of commitment, long hours of campaigning, contesting a local party selection process and negotiating often fractious local politics. During the campaign leading up to the 2023 Dutch Provincial Elections, we conducted a pilot study for our European Commission funded project on women’s political leadership. Our objective was to establish whether quick campaign ethnographies (e.g., shadowing candidates, observing campaign events) was feasible, identify challenges and opportunities and assessing whether candidates would engage with our research. This report summarises our methods and initial key findings. We are grateful to our participants as through their engagement we were able to meet our objectives and deepen our understanding of the campaign process.European Union Horizon 202

Conservation of African Leafy Vegetables in South Africa

The nutritional and cultural importance of African Leafy Vegetables has become very important in South Africa in the past few years. Recent research has also confirmed these issues, leading to the incorporation of African Vegetables into the core business of the ARC. ARC-Roodeplaat wants to improve the distribution and conservation status of African Leafy Vegetables. Geographical collection data on Amarant, Cleome gynandra, Corchorus olitorius and Vigna inguiculata was obtained from the National Botanical Institute and the data was analyzed with DIVA and Flora map. Ecogeographical distribution maps were drawn to predict the possible distribution of the species. Germplasm of African Leafy Vegetables was collected during routine visits and the conservation status was discussed with participants in the study areas of Arthurstone in Bushbuckridge, Watershed near Ladysmith and Mars/Glenroy near Polokwane. Germplasm of various species were also collected in collaboration with the Plant Genetic Resource Centre (NPGRC) of the Department of Agriculture in Arthurstone and Watershed.The NPGRC included leafy vegetables in their mandate since this trip. Seed flow diagrams were used to discuss the Watershed community’s seed exchange systems. It was clear when discussing African leafy vegetables in communities that their conservation and utilization are declining. Also looking at the trendlines of African Vegetables availability and utilization it is clear that the use and availability of African Leafy vegetables are declining due to various reasons. Two major reasons are the negative image of the African Leafy Vegetables and the increased use of “exotic” vegetables like spinach and carrots. The active promotion, use and conservation of African Leafy Vegetables are important if we want to increase the production potential and potential contribution towards food security in South Africa. This will ensure that the status of these crops is enhanced, specifically their contributing towards sustainable nutrition as well as sustainable production. Results from promotion activities in the project (reported in another paper) indicated that the negative image of African Leafy Vegetables could be reversed and also had an affect on the roll-out of the project to other areas of research such as plant protection, nutritional analysis and food safety, crop science and indigenous knowledge systems.Key Words: Ecogeographical, Conservation, Leafy vegetable  

The presence of depression and anxiety do not distinguish between functional jerks and cortical myoclonus

INTRODUCTION: Functional movement disorders are accompanied by a high occurrence of psychopathology and cause serious impairments in quality of life. However, little is known about this in patients with functional jerks and no comparison has been made between patients with functional jerks and organic myoclonus. This case control study compares the occurrence of depression, anxiety and quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients with functional jerks and cortical myoclonus. METHODS: Patients with functional jerks and cortical myoclonus, consecutively recruited, were compared on self-rated anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), health-related quality of life (RAND-36), and myoclonus severity (UMRS and CGI-S rating scales). RESULTS: Sixteen patients with functional jerks and 23 with cortical myoclonus were evaluated. There was no significant difference in depression (44% vs. 43%) or anxiety (44% vs. 47%) scores between groups. The HR-QoL was similarly impaired except that functional jerks patients reported significantly more pain (p < 0.05). Only in the functional jerks group myoclonus severity correlated with depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety scores are high and do not discriminate between functional jerks and cortical myoclonus. Quality of life was equally impaired in both sub-groups, but pain was significantly worse in patients with functional jerks

The Inter-rater Variability of Clinical Assessment in Post-anoxic Myoclonus.

Acute post-anoxic myoclonus (PAM) can be divided into an unfavorable (generalized/subcortical) and more favorable ((multi)focal/cortical) outcome group that could support prognostication in post-anoxic encephalopathy; however, the inter-rater variability of clinically assessing these PAM subtypes is unknown. We prospectively examined PAM patients using a standardized video protocol. Videos were rated by three neurologists who classified PAM phenotype (generalized/(multi)focal), stimulus sensitivity, localization (proximal/distal/both), and severity (Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) and Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale (UMRS)). Poor inter-rater agreement was found for phenotype and stimulus sensitivity (κ=-0.05), moderate agreement for localization (κ=0.46). Substantial agreement was obtained for the CGI-S (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.64) and almost perfect agreement for the UMRS (ICC=0.82). Clinical assessment of PAM is not reproducible between physicians, and should therefore not be used for prognostication. PAM severity measured by the UMRS appears to be reliable; however, the relation between PAM severity and outcome is unknown