Cultural and Media Identity Among Latvian Migrants in Germany

This chapter explores how transnational media and culture impacts on the identity formation of recent Latvian migrants in Germany. In the context of the EU, Germany opened its labour market to the new EU countries rather late, when compared to other ‘old’ EU countries. This has had an effect on the composition of the group of Latvian migrants going to Germany, and their identities. In the light of this, this chapter examines how Latvian migrants in Germany feel and experience their belonging to Latvia and its culture. It analyses the social and communicative practices crucial for the development of belonging, including the rootedness in the country where they live and the cultural references that are important for them. The evidence for the analysis in this chapter comes from in-depth interviews, open media diaries and network maps of Latvian migrants in Germany. The chapter situates the description of evidence in the framework of cultural identity concepts and discusses the role of culture and media in the process of building migrant identity. The chapter argues that culture is shaping the transnational self-perception of Latvian migrants in Germany – as it provides collective narratives of imagined common frames of references, and confirms feelings of belonging and distinction

Group support systems features and their contribution to technology strategy decision-making: A review and analysis

Collective decision-making processes require careful design considerations in organizations. On one hand, the inclusion of a greater number of actors contribute to a wider knowledge base, on the other, it can become a diffuse process and be distorted from the principles initially established. This paper observes a specific collective decision making process in organizations—technology strategy formulation—and, through a critical review of the literature, analyzes how the advances in features of group support systems support improvements in different stages of this process. This paper also discusses the implications of GSS appropriation in group dynamics.This research was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/ BD/ 33727/ 2009), within the framework of the MIT Portugal Program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel Furochromone Derivatives: Synthesis and Anticancer Activity Studies

Medicinal plant extracts have been used for medical purposes throughout human history. In this study, khellin, having furochromone structure, which is obtained from a well-known traditional medicinal plant, was selected. A series of furochromonyl compounds (K1-K14) were synthesized for their anticancer activities. Furochromonyl compounds (K1-K14) were synthesized by Knoevenagel reaction of substituted 2,4-thiazolidinediones (Ia-j)/rhodanines (Ik-n) with khellin-2-carboxaldehyde (V), and their cytotoxicity was investigated in 22 cancer cell lines, which were originated from tissues such as the liver, breast, colon, and cervix. As the first step, two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5 (Alexander cells) were treated with 10 mu M of each compound for 72 h, and then sulforhodamine B assay was performed to analyze their anti-growth activities. Ethyl 2-(5-((4,9-dimethoxy-5-oxo-5H-furo[3,2-g]chromen-7-yl)methylene)-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl)acetate (K11) was found as the most cytotoxic compound of primary screening. Afterwards, 12 hepatocellular carcinoma, seven breast cancer, two colon cancer, and a cervical cancer cell lines were selected to test K11 for 72 h at multiple concentrations to determine 50% effective doses. Results showed that the 14 cell lines were affected by K11 quantities lower than 10 mu M. The structure of K11, which is particularly effective on breast cancers, can be used to slow down the progression of tumors. Furthermore, the discovery of more effective compounds can be carried out on the basis of this structure

Seismic Velocity Variations in a 3D Martian Mantle: Implications for the InSight Measurements

We use a large data set of 3D thermal evolution models to predict the distribution of present‐day seismic velocities in the Martian interior. Our models show a difference between maximum and minimum S wave velocity of up to 10% either below the crust, where thermal variations are largest, or at the depth of the olivine to wadsleyite phase transition, located at around 1,000–1,200 km depth. Models with thick lithospheres on average have weak low‐velocity zones that extend deeper than 400 km and seismic velocity variations in the uppermost 400–600 km that closely follow the crustal thickness pattern. For these cases, the crust contains more than half of the total amount of heat‐producing elements. Models with limited crustal heat production have thinner lithospheres and shallower but prominent low‐velocity zones that are incompatible with Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) observations. Seismic events suggested to originate in Cerberus Fossae indicate the absence of S wave shadow zones in 25°–30° epicentral distance. This result is compatible with previous best fit models that require a large average lithospheric thickness and a crust containing more than half of the bulk amount of heat‐producing elements to be compatible with geological and geophysical constraints. Ongoing and future InSight measurements that will determine the existence of a weak low‐velocity zone will directly bear on the crustal heat production.Plain Language Summary: The crustal thickness variations and the crustal enrichment in heat‐producing elements directly affect the thermal state of the lithosphere and in turn the distribution of seismic velocities in the interior of Mars. Thermal evolution models in a 3D geometry with a crust that contains more than half of the total radioactive heat production show large variations of the seismic velocities in the lithosphere. These models are characterized by a weak low‐velocity zone that extends locally to depths larger than 400 km and a seismic velocity pattern similar to the crustal thickness pattern down to 600 km depth. Models, with limited crustal heat production, and hence higher mantle heat production, lead to a thinner lithosphere that results in shallower but more prominent low‐velocity zones. The latter produce S wave shadow zones that are incompatible with clear S‐phase arrivals for events located close to Cerberus Fossae. The absence of S wave shadow zones between the Interior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) landing site and Cerberus Fossae is in line with other geological and geophysical constraints that require a large fraction of heat‐producing elements to be located in the Martian crust. Future InSight measurements will put further constraints on the distribution of heat‐producing elements in the Martian interior.Key Points: Models show up to 10% difference between maximum and minimum S wave velocity either below the crust or at the depth of phase transitions. The seismic velocity pattern in the lithosphere correlates with the crustal thickness dichotomy and can extend to depths >400 km. Models with a crust containing <20% of the total heat production show shadow zones that are incompatible with current seismic observations.DLR Management Board Young Research Group Leader Program and the Executive Board Member for Space Research and TechnologyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000104European Space Agency http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000844Belgian Federal Science Policy Office http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002749Belgian Federal Science Policy Office http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002749Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002830Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/50110000234