bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MYT1L is required for suppressing earlier neuronal development programs in the adult mouse brain
Authors: Chen Jiayang , Fuhler Nicole , Noguchi Kevin , Dougherty Joseph D.
Published: October 2022

In vitrostudies indicate the neurodevelopmental disorder gene Myelin Transcription Factor 1 Like (MYT1L) suppresses non-neuronal lineage genes during fibroblast-to-neuron direct differentiation. However, MYT1L’s molecular and cellular functions during differentiation in the mammalian brain have not been fully characterized. Here, we found that MYT1L loss leads to up-regulated deep layer (DL) but down-regulated upper layer (UL) neuron gene expression, corresponding to an increased ratio of DL/UL neurons in mouse cortex. To define potential mechanisms, we conducted Cleavage Under Targets & Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN) to map MYT1L binding targets in mouse developing cortex and adult prefrontal cortex (PFC), and to map epigenetic changes due to MYT1L mutation. We found MYT1L mainly binds to open chromatin, but with different transcription factor co-occupancies between promoters and enhancers. Likewise, multi-omic dataset integration revealed that, at promoters, MYT1L loss does not change chromatin accessibility but does increase H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, activating both a subset of earlier neuronal development genes as well asBcl11b, a key regulator for DL neuron development. Meanwhile, we discovered that MYT1L normally represses the activity of neurogenic enhancers associated with neuronal migration and neuronal projection development by closing chromatin structures and promoting removal of active histone marks. Further, we show MYT1L interacts with SIN3B and HDAC2in vivo, providing potential mechanisms underlying any repressive effects on histone acetylation and gene expression. Overall, our findings provide a comprehensive map of MYT1L bindingin vivoand mechanistic insights to how MYT1L facilitates neuronal maturation.
Type I PRMT inhibitor MS023 promotesSMN2exon 7 inclusion and synergizes with nusinersen to rescue the phenotype of SMA mice
Authors: Kordala Anna J , Ahlskog Nina , Hanifi Muhammad , Bhomra Amarjit , Stoodley Jessica , Lim Wooi Fang , Hammond Suzan M , Wood Matthew JA , Rinaldi Carlo
Published: October 2022

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. The advent of approved treatments for this devastating condition has significantly changed SMA patients’ life expectancy and quality of life. Nevertheless, these are not without limitations, and research efforts are underway to develop new approaches to be used alone and in combination, to ensure improved and long-lasting benefits for SMA patients. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) are emerging as druggable epigenetic targets, with several small molecule PRMT inhibitors already in clinical trial stage. From a screen of highly potent and selective next generation epigenetic small molecules, we have identified MS023, a potent and selective type I PRMT inhibitor, able to promoteSMN2exon 7 inclusion and increase SMN protein levels in preclinical SMA model, by inhibiting the binding of splicing factor hnRNPA1 toSMN2pre-mRNA. Treatment of SMA mice with MS023 results in amelioration of the disease phenotype, with strong synergistic amplification of the positive effect when delivered in combination with theSMN2-targeting antisense oligonucleotide nusinersen. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis revealed that MS023 treatment has very minimal off-target effects and that the added benefit of the combination therapy is mainly attributable to targeting neuroinflammation. Our study warrants further clinical investigation of PRMT inhibition both as a stand-alone and add-on therapy for SMA patients.
Periodic boundaries in Molecular Dynamics simulations: why do we need salt?
Authors: Kopec Wojciech , Gapsys Vytautas
Published: October 2022

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are usually performed by employing periodic boundary conditions (PBC). While this treatment of simulation system removes the necessity to treat the interactions with an otherwise artificial boundary, PBC also introduces additional constraints that need to be carefully considered for a robust and reliable simulation. Some of the issues pertaining to PBC are well explored and can be remedied by choosing a large enough unit cell, or by applying corrections to the generated trajectories. In current work, we study another artifact which cannot be alleviated by changing the box size. The artifact occurs due to the PBC imposed constraints affecting systems with permanent uncompensated dipoles, which is of particular relevance for lipid membrane simulations. Such dipoles often arise in many biologically-relevant setups, in particular those involving asymmetric lipid bilayers. The artifact manifests itself as an electric field formation in the simulation box which is counteracted by redistribution of mobile charge carriers (ions) and/or ordering of water dipoles. In the absence of ions, the artifact may cause strong water ordering, affecting thermodynamics of the studied system. This observation reveals a conceptually interesting effect of using explicit salt in MD simulations: ions help removing the unwanted periodicity-induced artifact occurring due to uncompensated electric dipoles. Therefore, we recommend adding mobile ions in molecular simulations whenever possible, and call for caution when simulating systems that require low salt concentration (or no salt at all), for example ion channel inactivation promoting conditions. In general, our findings are relevant for molecular simulations of any systems that contain uncompensated dipoles, that might occur more often than previously thought.
OPUS: an easy way to push the limits of SANS instruments towards USANS
Authors: Galvan Josa Victor Martín , Farhi Emmanuel , Schweins Ralf , Jackson Andrew , Mondelli Claudia
Published: October 2022

Chemistry and physics have made major advances in recent years, yielding much more complex systems with high hierarchical order across multiple length scales. Accordingly, characterization tools are required that can elucidate the structure of such new materials over all length scales. Simultaneous small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) measurements are a unique tool to study such complexity and can be applied to very different fields of science. The OPUS (Option USANS) project is the study of a USANS option for SANS instruments, designed to be very versatile and easy to implement. The main idea is to provide the opportunity to study at the same time, and under the same experimental conditions, complex systems such as polymers, bio-systems, complex fibres and self-assembling systems. More specifically, this work presents the design of an option that could be applied to the suite of SANS instruments at the European Spallation Source (ESS) which will allow exploration of a Q range with a minimum Q down to one order of magnitude lower than the value attainable with the standard SANS instrument at the ESS. The proposed setup, based on the SAMBA (small-angle multi-beam analysis) approach, is very easy and fast to implement on a conventional SANS instrument and constitutes a multi-beam approach involving two multi-slits and a set of lenses near the sample position. This contribution describes all the focusing elements necessary to attain the proposed configuration and a detailed study using McStas simulations to optimize all the parameters involved for two SANS instruments: the future LoKI at the ESS and the present D11 at the Institut Laue–Langevin, the latter used as a benchmark for the model. Simulations performed without taking into account gravity effects show that the multi-beam approach allows extending the Q ranges to 9 × 10−5–7 × 10−4 Å−1 and 5 × 10−5–3 × 10−4 Å−1 for LoKI and D11, respectively.
Impact of income diversification on bank stability: a cross-country analysis
Authors: Adem Mohammed
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The impact of diversification on bank stability and risk remains an ongoing topic of discussion with inconclusive results. Hence, this study investigated the implications of income diversification on bank stability within African markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilised longitudinal financial data on 45 countries from 2000 to 2017 and employed static and dynamic panel model estimation.

Findings

The results of the study suggest income diversification technique could improve financial stability throughout typical and crisis periods which validate portfolio management theory. The study also confirms the “too big to fail” hypothesis, extensive diversifying over an optimal range negatively impacts stability. Banks with a high level of liquidity, a higher operating efficiency and a larger deposit ratio become more resilient. Banking capital regulations found to be the appropriate monitoring instrument for lowering risks and maintaining stability. However, profitability was found to have a positive effect on bank risk-taking. The finding also suggests that political institutions have substantial, direct implications that are positively related to bank fragility. Macroeconomic factors such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth and inflation also influenced bank stability.

Practical implications

This study has important implications for bankers, regulators and academicians concerned about the effect of diversification on a bank’s risk-taking or stability in developing economies.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on Africa to analyse the quadratic influence of income diversification and the effects of political institutions on the level of bank stability.
Mapping research output on library and information science research domain in South Africa: a bibliometric visualisation
Authors: Wani Javaid Ahmad , Ganaie Shabir Ahmad , Rehman Ikhlaq Ur
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the research output on “library and information science” (LIS) research domain in South Africa. It also highlights the top LIS research organisations, authors, journals, collaboration types and commonly used keywords. This research will aid in the identification of emerging concepts, trends and advances in this subject.

Design/methodology/approach

The Web of Science (WoS), an indexing and abstracting database, served as a tool for bibliographical data. By applying advanced search features, the authors curated data from 1989 to 2021 through the WoS subject category WC = (Information Science & Library Science), limiting the scope to the region, CU = (South Africa), which resulted in 1,034 articles. Moreover, the research focuses on science mapping using the R package for reliable analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal that the publications have considerably grown over time, indicating significant attention among researchers in LIS. The findings indicate the critical operator’s performance, existing thematic choices and subsequent research opportunities. The primary topical fields of study that emerged from the bibliometric analysis are impact, information, science, model, management, technology, knowledge and education. Pouris and Fourie are the most productive citations, h-index and g-index. The influential institute was The University of Pretoria.

Research limitations/implications

The use of the WoS database for data collecting limits this study. Because the WoS was the only citation and abstract database used in this study, bibliometric investigations using other citation and abstract databases like “Scopus”, “Google Scholar” and “Dimension” could be interesting. This study presented a bibliometric summary; nevertheless, a systematic and methodical examination of highly cited LIS research publications could throw more light on the subject.

Practical implications

This paper gives valuable information about recent scientific advancements in the LIS and emerging future academic subject prospects. Furthermore, this research work will serve as a reference for researchers in various areas to analyse the evolution of scholarly literature on a particular topic over time.

Originality/value

By identifying the standard channels of study in the LIS discipline, and the essential journals, publications, nations, institutions, authors, data sources and networks in this subject, this bibliometric mapping and visualisation provide new perspectives into academic performance. This paper also articulates future research directions in this realm of knowledge. This study is more rigorous and comprehensive in terms of the analytical procedures it uses.
How and when does leader humility promote followers’ proactive customer service performance?
Authors: Peng Yan , Tian Jian , Zhou Xing , Wu Lunwen
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine how and when leader humility influences subordinates’ proactive customer service performance (PCSP). Drawing upon the conservation of resources theory, this study theorizes a moderated mediation model with relational energy as the mediator and person–supervisor fit (P-S fit) as the moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a three-wave survey in 20 hotels in China, collecting 467 valid questionnaires from frontline employees and supervisors. Hierarchical regression analysis and the PROCESS procedure were adopted for data analyses.

Findings

Leader humility can facilitate followers’ PCSP, and relational energy mediates this relationship. Furthermore, P-S fit amplifies leader humility’s direct influence on relational energy, as well as magnifies leader humility’s indirect effect on PCSP through relational energy.

Research limitations/implications

Companies need to be more concerned about selecting qualified candidates for management positions and fostering their humility via training, focus on employees’ relational energy and P-S fit and attempt to encourage PCSP in multiple ways.

Originality/value

Research on PCSP has largely neglected the influence of leader humility, which has the potential to be particularly effective in today’s hospitality industry, characterized by high dynamics. This study extends the literature on PCSP by connecting it with leader humility. It also provides new insights into the mechanism and boundary condition from a relational and resource perspective.
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on sustainable food supply chains
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Yetkin Ekren Banu , Wang Jiayan , Shah Bhavin , Frederico Guilherme Francisco
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The ongoing pandemic has gravely affected different facets of society and economic trades worldwide. During the outbreak, most manufacturing and service sectors were closed across the globe except for essential commodities such as food and medicines. Consequently, recent literature has focused on studying supply chain resilience and sustainability in different pandemic contexts. This study aims to add to the existing literature by exploring the economic, environmental and societal aspects affecting the food supply chain and assessing the impact of COVID-19 on food sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey method has been adopted with a questionnaire instrument investigating the role of technology, government policies, geopolitics and intermediaries on sustainable organisational management. A five-point Likert scale (i.e. 1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree) is used to evaluate the responses. The findings are based on 131 responses from entry-level workers and senior executives of different food supply chains across Asia and Europe. The data has been analysed to derive insights into the impacts of this pandemic.

Findings

The survey concludes with the significant impact of COVID-19 on the three pillars of sustainability, i.e. economic, social and environmental dimensions. The empirical analysis shows digitalisation and its applications help mitigate the negative effect of COVID-19 on sustainability. In addition, the supportive government policies and intermediatory interventions were helpful in improving sustainability at each level.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have implications for businesses and policymakers. Companies can learn from the advantages of digitalisation to counter the challenges imposed by the pandemic or similar situations in the future in maintaining the sustainability of their supply chains. Managers can also learn the importance of effective organisational management in driving sustainability. Finally, policymakers can devise policies to support businesses in adopting sustainable practices in their supply chains.

Originality/value

This study adds to the limited literature exploring the impact of COVID-19 on food supply chain sustainability through the triple bottom line lens. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is also one of the first empirical studies to examine the effect of technology, government and organisational management practices on the sustainability of food supply chains.
The Covid Shift: working women's punctuated equilibrium
Authors: Purcell Jennifer W. , Rodriguez Darlene Xiomara , Ring Kelsey A.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework for examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper on women in the formal workforce is grounded within the leadership and organization development literature.

Findings

The authors posit the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent instability in the US workforce, particularly among women and mothers, is effectively examined through the lens of punctuated equilibrium. Specifically, the widespread disruption initiated by the pandemic provides an opportunity for transformative change within organizations and society. Furthermore, working women impacted during this punctuated equilibrium are likewise positioned for transformation. The authors suggest the pandemic and its impact on the formal workforce can be leveraged for individual and organizational development as well as transformation, resulting in advancement toward self-authorship and increased equity within organizations, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper offers a novel integration and application of three leadership and organization development concepts: punctuated equilibrium, the self-authorship theory and Theory U, to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working women.
Institutions Ignored: A History of Select Committee Scrutiny in the House of Lords, 1968–2021
Authors: Connolly John , Flinders Matthew , Judge David , Torrance Michael , Tudor Philippa
Published: October 2022

Within the vast seam of scholarship on parliamentary history the evolution and role of select committees in the house of lords, particularly in relation to investigatory or policy‐focused committees, has been almost completely overlooked. They have been ‘institutions ignored’. This gap in the existing research base is particularly stark when compared with the very large literature on the history of select committees in the house of commons. This article fills this gap by providing the first detailed historical account of the evolution of investigatory or policy‐focused committees in the house of lords. This account reveals the evolution of a distinctive ‘scrutiny style’ moulded around the notion of complementarity, a highly specialised approach and an understanding of the merits of self‐restraint. However, during 2018–21 a fundamental review of the investigatory committee system was undertaken within the house of lords which led to significant change in relation to both the structure and ambition of committees. The impact of this reform agenda is likely to ensure that select committees in the Lords are far more visible in the future, within and beyond the Palace of Westminster, than they were in the past.
River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool; a tool to screen options for reducing nutrient loads while minimizing cost
Authors: Chamberlin Catherine , ten Brink Marilyn , Munson Kate , Le Alyssa , Detenbeck Naomi
Published: October 2022

Excess loading of nitrogen and phosphorus to river networks causes environmental harm, but reducing loads from large river basins is difficult and expensive. We developed a new tool, the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROST) to identify the least‐cost combinations of management practices that will reduce nutrient loading to target levels in downstream and mid‐network waterbodies. We demonstrate the utility of the tool in a case study in the Upper Connecticut River Basin in New England, USA. The total project cost of optimized lowest‐cost plans ranged from $18.0 million to $41.0 million per year over 15 years depending on user specifications. Plans include both point source and non‐point source management practices, and most costs are associated with urban stormwater practices. Adding a 2% margin of safety to loading targets improved the estimated probability of success from 37.5% to 99%. The large spatial scale of RBEROST, and the consideration of both point and non‐point source contributions of nutrients, make it well suited as an initial screening tool in watershed planning.
Voice activity detection in eco‐acoustic data enables privacy protection and is a proxy for human disturbance
Authors: Cretois Benjamin , Rosten Carolyn M. , Sethi Sarab S.
Published: October 2022

Eco‐acoustic monitoring is increasingly being used to map biodiversity across large scales, yet little thought is given to the privacy concerns and potential scientific value of inadvertently recorded human speech. Automated speech detection is possible using voice activity detection (VAD) models, but it is not clear how well these perform in diverse natural soundscapes. In this study we present the first evaluation of VAD models for anonymization of eco‐acoustic data and demonstrate how speech detection frequency can be used as one potential measure of human disturbance.

We first generated multiple synthetic datasets using different data preprocessing techniques to train and validate deep neural network models. We evaluated the performance of our custom models against existing state‐of‐the‐art VAD models using playback experiments with speech samples from a man, woman and child. Finally, we collected long‐term data from a Norwegian forest heavily used for hiking to evaluate the ability of the models to detect human speech and quantify a proxy for human disturbance in a real monitoring scenario.

In playback experiments, all models could detect human speech with high accuracy at distances where the speech was intelligible (up to 10 m). We showed that training models using location specific soundscapes in the data preprocessing step resulted in a slight improvement in model performance. Additionally, we found that the number of speech detections correlated with peak traffic hours (using bus timings) demonstrating how VAD can be used to derive a proxy for human disturbance with fine temporal resolution.

Anonymizing audio data effectively using VAD models will allow eco‐acoustic monitoring to continue to deliver invaluable ecological insight at scale, while minimizing the risk of data misuse. Furthermore, using speech detections as a proxy for human disturbance opens new opportunities for eco‐acoustic monitoring to shed light on nuanced human–wildlife interactions.
Analysing and improving preoperative medication management in cardiac surgery
Authors: Morath Benedict , Meid Andreas D. , Zaradzki Marcin , Geßele Carolin , Nüse Stefanie , Chiriac Ute , Hoppe‐Tichy Torsten , Karck Matthias , Soethoff Jasmin
Published: October 2022

Aims

The objective of this study was to analyse the preoperative medication management within the cardiac surgery patient population and measure the effectiveness of an interprofessional intervention in routine care.

Methods

A jointly developed preoperative medication management was implemented in routine care on multiple levels (inclusion in admission letter to primary care, hotline for inquiries, pocket cards for physicians and correspondence with referring centres). The effectiveness was evaluated by analysing preoperative management before and after implementation. The primary endpoint was the number of drugs managed correctly according to the guidelines after implementation. Secondary endpoints consisted amongst others of bleeding on the intensive care unit, re‐thoracotomy, postoperative infarction and cerebrovascular complications. Additionally, possible associations between the correct management and different variables were investigated by multivariate analysis.

Results

After the implementation, the number of drugs managed correctly according to guidelines increased from 54.0 to 73.5% (P < .001). The effect was more prominent for direct oral anticoagulants and prophylactic aspirin where the guideline adherence increased from 29.2 to 74.5% and from 78.6 to 95.1%, respectively. No difference was seen for sodium–glucose transporter‐2 inhibitors, metformin, vitamin‐K antagonists and dual‐antiplatelet therapy. Secondary endpoints showed no safety signals with regard to bleeding or thrombotic events. In multivariate analysis, the intervention was effective (odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence interval [1.32–3.62]) after adjusting for possible confounders.

Conclusion

An interprofessional programme was effective to improve preoperative medication management in cardiac surgery patients. Sodium–glucose transporter‐2 inhibitors, metformin and direct oral anticoagulants appear to be especially at risk for incorrect management before cardiac surgery with possible adverse events.
Atropisomerism transforming anti‐cancer drug discovery
Authors: Patel Simran , Sandha Khushi , Waingankar Anushka , Jain Prachi , Abhyankar Arundhati
Published: October 2022

Atropisomerism is a stereochemical phenomenon that describes how groups are arranged in space as a result of their impeded rotation around a single bond. It is one of the frequently underappreciated conformational kinds of chirality. A significant role for atropisomers in drug discovery and development has been established via substantial study on the characteristics of molecules exhibiting this form of chirality. According to studies on the target selectivity of anti‐cancer drugs, it was identified that atropisomers of specific compounds could be examined to modulate the selectivity of promiscuous inhibitors, which are a key target in cancer therapy. Conversely, it was discovered that these deliberate rigidifications of possible molecules along an axis of chirality gave an abundant possibility of acquiring more tailored anti‐cancer action. Atropisomerism plays a significant role in altering pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and thereby the success of any proposed drug candidate. It is thus necessary to anticipate the impact of stereogenic centres in such compounds on cancer drug development. Hence, herein we review atropisomeric anti‐cancer moieties which have been investigated based on their target proteins, origin and isomerism. The insights offered herein would be extremely useful in anti‐cancer drug design, pave way for new avenues to development promising potent agents to combat this life‐threatening disease.
ATF7‐dependent epigenetic changes induced by high temperature during early porcine embryonic development
Authors: Sun Ming‐Hong , Jiang Wen‐Jie , Li Xiao‐Han , Lee Song‐Hee , Heo Geun , Zhou Dongjie , Choi Jung‐Seok , Kim Kwan‐Suk , Lv Wenfa , Cui Xiang‐Shun
Published: October 2022

Background

Activating transcription factor 7 (ATF7) is a member of the ATF/cAMP response element (CRE) B superfamily. ATF2, ATF7, and CRE‐BPa are present in vertebrates. Drosophila and fission yeast have only one homologue: dATF2 and Atf1, respectively. Under normal conditions, ATF7 promotes heterochromatin formation by recruiting histone H3K9 di‐ and tri‐methyltransferases. Once the situation changes, all members are phosphorylated by the stress‐activated kinase P38 in response to various stressors. However, the role of ATF7 in early porcine embryonic development remains unclear.

Results

In this study, we found that ATF7 gradually accumulated in the nucleus and then localized on the pericentric heterochromatin after the late 4‐cell stage, while being co‐localized with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). Knockdown of ATF7 resulted in decreases in the blastocyst rate and blastocyst cell number. ATF7 depletion resulted in downregulation of HP1 and histone 3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) expression. These effects were alleviated when P38 activity was inhibited. High temperatures increased the expression level of pP38, while reducing the quality of porcine embryos, and led to ATF7 phosphorylation. The expression level of H3K9me2 and HP1 was decreased and regulated by P38 activity.

Conclusion

Stress‐induced ATF7‐dependent epigenetic changes play important roles in early porcine embryonic development.
Gaps in our knowledge of managing inpatient dysglycaemia and diabetes in non‐critically ill adults: A call for further research
Authors: Dhatariya Ketan K. , Umpierrez Guillermo
Published: October 2022

Aims

To describe the gaps in knowledge for the care of people in the hospital who have dysglycaemia or diabetes.

Methods

A review of the current literature and the authors' knowledge of the subject.

Results

Recent data has suggested that the prevalence of hospitalised people with diabetes is approximately three times the prevalence in the general population and is growing annually. A wealth of observational data over the last 4 decades has shown that people with hyperglycaemia, severe hypoglycaemia or diabetes, all experience more harm whilst in the hospital than those who do not have the condition. This often equates to a longer length of stay and thus higher costs. To date, the proportion of federal funding aimed at addressing the harms that people with dysglycaemia experience in hospitals has been very small compared to outpatient studies. National organisations, such as the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care, the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society have produced guidelines or consensus statements on the management of various aspects of inpatient care. However, whilst a lot of these have been based on evidence, much remains based on expert opinion and thus low‐quality evidence.

Conclusions

This review highlights that inpatient diabetes is an underfunded and under‐researched area.
Semaglutide for the treatment of overweight and obesity: A review
Authors: Bergmann Natasha Chidekel , Davies Melanie J. , Lingvay Ildiko , Knop Filip K.
Published: October 2022

Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease associated with multiple complications and a substantial morbidity, mortality and health care burden. Pharmacological treatments for obesity provide a valuable adjunct to lifestyle intervention, which often achieves only limited weight loss that is difficult to maintain. The Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with obesity (STEP) clinical trial programme is evaluating once‐weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg (a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogue) in people with overweight or obesity. Across STEP 1, 3, 4 and 8, semaglutide 2.4 mg was associated with mean weight losses of 14.9%‐17.4% in individuals with overweight or obesity without type 2 diabetes from baseline to week 68; 69%‐79% of participants achieved ≥10% weight loss with semaglutide 2.4 mg (vs. 12%‐27% with placebo) and 51%‐64% achieved ≥15% weight loss (vs. 5%‐13% with placebo). In STEP 5, mean weight loss was −15.2% with semaglutide 2.4 mg versus −2.6% with placebo from baseline to week 104. In STEP 2 (individuals with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes), mean weight loss was −9.6% with semaglutide 2.4 mg versus −3.4% with placebo from baseline to week 68. Improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors, including high blood pressure, atherogenic lipids and benefits on physical function and quality of life were seen with semaglutide 2.4 mg. The safety profile of semaglutide 2.4 mg was consistent across trials, primarily gastrointestinal adverse events. The magnitude of weight loss reported in the STEP trials offers the potential for clinically relevant improvement for individuals with obesity‐related diseases.
A theory of justice? Securing the normative foundations of EU criminal law through an integrated approach to independence
Authors: Mancano Leandro
Published: October 2022

This paper raises the question as to whether a theory of justice exists in EU law. The focus is on justice as a system. The assumption is that the independence of institutional actors involved in the administration of criminal justice (mainly judges and prosecutors) vis‐à‐vis each other, and other State powers, is key to that system achieving justice as a value. Against the benchmark of judicial and prosecutorial independence developed in European law, the paper assesses the role for independence in investigative, prosecutorial and adjudicating functions as it emerges from the current state of EU criminal law. The conclusions reveal that the EU's idea of justice remains underdeveloped, and that there is a need for systemic coherence to better protect the rule of law and enhance the legitimacy of EU criminal law.
Evolution in agricultural systems: Moving toward the understanding of complexity
Authors: Rodrigues Leonor R. , Montserrat Marta , Magalhães Sara
Published: October 2022

Agricultural fields are typically simplified ecosystems compared to natural sites, a characteristic that has long‐attracted researchers in Ecology and Evolution. In recent years, there has been a rising interest in understanding how agricultural systems are shaped by evolution in the context of changing agricultural practices by integrating biological information of crop systems. This editorial introduces the special issue “Evolution in agricultural systems,” incorporating the articles published within this issue into three general areas of research: phenotypic and genetic responses to the environment, biotic interactions and the role of microbes. Together, this body of work unveils unforeseen complexity at all levels, from microbes to trophic chains. Understanding such complexity is critical not only to better understand natural systems, but also if we wish to improve the sustainability of the food system.
Encapsulation of TA in edible nanofibrous mat improves antioxidant efficiency and their modulation of fatty acids profile in flaxseed oil
Authors: Yang Weiqiao , Duan Xiaoliang , Sun Hui , Fan Xuetong , Wang He , Wang Wenjuan
Published: October 2022

Encapsulation of tannic acid (TA) in an edible guar gum (GG) – the nanofibrous delivery system was applied to improve antioxidant efficacy relative to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and non‐encapsulated TA under accelerated oxidation of flaxseed oil (FO). The TA fibrous mat (average fibre diameter of 96 ± 22 nm) significantly improved oxidative stability compared to BHT‐ and non‐encapsulated TA‐treated samples during the oil‐accelerated oxidation test (peroxide value, p‐anisidine, P < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) for eight fatty acids: palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid and palmitoleic acid, explained 80.0% of the total variation. Linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid were essential to the discrimination of fatty acid changes in the PLS model among all the studied variables. After 30 days of oxidation, TA fibrous‐mat‐treated FO was separated from the control‐, BHT‐ and non‐encapsulated TA‐treated sample, mainly due to the changes in linolenic acid. Our original study provides a novel method to improve the oxidative stability of FO and may support further exploration of the interaction between active nanodelivery systems and fatty acids.
Statistical analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Laird Nan M.
Published: October 2022

Longitudinal studies play a prominent role in research on growth, change and/or decline in individuals, and in characterising the environmental and social factors which influence change. The essential feature of a longitudinal study is taking repeated measures of an outcome on the same set of individuals at multiple timepoints, thereby allowing investigators to characterise within subject changes during the measurement period. This paper provides an overview of how the basic design features and analysis of longitudinal studies are related to other study designs, including longitudinal clinical trials as well as repeated measures studies. I summarise the use of the linear mixed model as described in Laird and Ware for the analysis of a broad class of designs and present some applications in health and medicine.
Precipitation drives species accumulation whereas temperature drives species decline in Himalayan vertebrates
Authors: Hu Yiming , Gibson Luke , Hu Huijian , Ding Zhifeng , Zhou Zhixin , Li Weiqi , Jiang Zhigang , Scheffers Brett R.
Published: October 2022

Aim

Many studies have explored taxon‐specific richness patterns with elevation, but few have concurrently evaluated different mechanisms to explain elevational patterns across multiple taxa. We used a novel, cross‐taxa approach to study species richness patterns combined with a framework that tests drivers of species accumulation versus decline along the elevational gradient in the Himalayas.

Location

The Himalayas.

Taxon

Mammals, birds and amphibians.

Methods

We used geographical and elevational data of 314 mammals, 842 breeding birds and 147 amphibians to investigate species richness patterns across elevational and geographical spaces. We divided the elevational species richness gradient into segments of species accumulation versus species decline by piecewise linear regressions. We used path analysis to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of the predictors on species richness for the overall pattern and its divided segments. We test the asymmetry of main drivers between the accumulation and decline segments of richness by iteration procedure.

Results

Species richness for most taxa tracks an elevational hump‐shaped distribution. The dominant driver of the overall pattern varied by taxa and in context to subregion. Across taxa, precipitation best predicts the accumulation of species richness, whereas temperature best predicts the decline in species richness. Moreover, temperature and precipitation can affect species richness indirectly through productivity, showcasing a large interactional effect of climate and productivity on species richness.

Main conclusions

Resource allocation of the ecosystem and requirements of the species differ between the lower and upper elevation segments but remain consistent across the overall gradient. The resources essential for promoting diversity and mediating stochastic processes are directly tied to precipitation at the process of species accumulation and temperature at the process of species richness decline. Our findings support the existing theory in climate change science that reduced precipitation combined with increasing temperature may cause species extinction in the species‐rich lowlands.
Association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and vitiligo susceptibility: An updated meta‐analysis
Authors: Lee Young Ho , Song Gwan Gyu
Published: October 2022

Background

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms may play an important role in the vitiligo susceptibility. There have been many studies looking at the associations between VDR polymorphisms and vitiligo risk, but the conclusions are still up for debate.

Aim

This study aimed to determine whether polymorphisms in the VDR are associated to the susceptibility to vitiligo.

Methods

Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms in vitiligo patients and controls were identified using PubMed/Medline and Embase databases. The relationships between the VDR ApaI, TaqI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms and vitiligo were investigated using meta‐analyses of all participants and Asian, Arab, European, and Latin American groups.

Results

This meta‐analysis included 13 papers with 2034 patients and 2771 controls. In all individuals, there was no link between vitiligo and the VDR ApaI A allele (OR = 0.889, 95% CI = 0.713–1.109, p = 0.298). However, in Asians (OR = 0.721, 95% CI = 0.553–0.940, p = 0.016) but not in Europeans or Arabs, there was a link between the VDR ApaI A allele and vitiligo. Utilizing recessive, dominant, and homozygote contrast models, a link between vitiligo and the VDR ApaI polymorphism was discovered in Asians. Meta‐analysis of the VDR BsmI polymorphism showed a significant association between vitiligo and the B allele (OR = 0.812, 95% CI = 0.686–0.961, p = 0.015). In contrast, no connection between vitiligo and VDR polymorphisms was identified for TaqI and FokI polymorphisms.

Conclusion

In the Asian population, ApaI and BsmI polymorphisms in VDR have been correlated to vitiligo susceptibility. However, TaqI and FokI polymorphisms in VDR are not associated with vitiligo susceptibility in European, Asian, Arab, and Latin American populations.
Themes of trust, identity, intimacy, and generativity in important autobiographical memories: Associations with life periods and life satisfaction
Authors: Nusser Lisa , Zimprich Daniel , Wolf Tabea
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Guided by Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the present study investigated whether themes of trust, identity, intimacy, and generativity are represented in older adults' most important autobiographical memories. Furthermore, we tested whether these themes are associated with certain life periods and whether having important memories (i.e., life story) that reflect developmental themes and are evaluated as positive is associated with life satisfaction.

Methods

One hundred and twelve (59.8% female) older adults (61–92 years, M = 70.96, SD = 6.81) reported up to 15 important autobiographical memories. Participants rated each memory according to the themes of trust/mistrust, identity/confusion, intimacy/isolation, and generativity/stagnation.

Results

Using multilevel multinomial logistic regression, we found childhood memories to be associated with trust, memories from participants' youth with identity and intimacy, and adulthood memories with intimacy and generativity. Moreover, participants who rated their autobiographical memories (i.e., life story) as high in reflecting themes and, at the same time, perceived their memories as more positive showed higher levels of life satisfaction.

Conclusion

Important autobiographical memories reflect how an individual became the person of today. They refer to age‐related themes of psychosocial development and are associated with a person's life satisfaction if they are also considered as emotionally more positive.
A foreign policy oriented toward personal interests: An analysis of Bolsonaro's approach to multilateralism
Authors: Soares de Lima Maria Regina , Albuquerque Marianna
Published: October 2022

Historically, Brazilian diplomacy has centered its foreign policy strategy on multilateral institutions. Multilateralism has not only been an instrument to share the political costs of international decisions but also a defensive mechanism, due to Brazil's modest military capability. In this article, we consider that Bolsonaro's multilateral foreign policy represents the rupture of narrative. Departing from the premise that foreign policy is a public policy, hence subjected to domestic constituencies, Bolsonaro's conservative project is constructed in the intersection between domestic politics and the international system. First, we introduce our main hypothesis, that he employs an ideology of anticommunism, antiglobalism, and negationism to assure the loyalty of specific constituencies despite potential disruptions to collective interests and national long‐term strategies. Next, we connect the internal to the external by comparing Bolsonaro's approval in public opinion polls and his proposition or support of domestic laws to Brazil's stance in multilateral forums. To verify the validity of our argument, we aim to identify patterns of external behavior that correspond to the president's political ideas and guidelines and to concrete interests of domestic constituencies.
Playing with fire? Entrepreneurs and the foreign policy of Jair Bolsonaro's Brazil, 2019–2021
Authors: Loureiro Felipe
Published: October 2022

This article considers how Brazilian entrepreneurs, mainly from the agribusiness and manufacturing sectors, interpreted and reacted to Brazil's foreign policy during the first 3 years of the Jair Bolsonaro administration (2019–2021). Through semistructured interviews and content analysis of business primary sources, the article concludes that, despite significant heterogeneities within and between economic sectors, agribusiness and manufacturing entrepreneurs were more critical of than complimentary toward the nature and directions of Bolsonaro's foreign policy. The article also shows that business lobbying was successful in several issues, including keeping the project of South American economic integration alive; containing the close association between Bolsonaro and Benjamin Netanyahu's Israel; and limiting the economic and political consequences of Brazil–China diplomatic crises. Despite their achievements, business leaders were less successful in moderating and much less changing Bolsonaro's approach toward the environment and climate change, which constituted a significant predicament for the country's image abroad and played a crucial role in obstructing the ratification of a trade deal with the European Union. Still, these negative implications were not enough to produce any serious split between business groups and the Bolsonaro administration during the first 3 years of Bolsonaro's rule.
Investigating First and Second Language Speaker Intuitions of Phrasal Frequency and Association Strength of Multiword Sequences
Authors: Yi Wei , Man Kaiwen , Maie Ryo
Published: October 2022

In this study, we investigated the accuracy of first language (L1) and second language (L2) speakers’ intuitive judgments of phrasal frequency and collocation strength, and examined the linguistic influences that give rise to these judgments. L1 and L2 speakers of English judged 180 adjective–noun collocations as (a) high frequency, medium frequency, or low frequency and (b) high association, medium association, or low association. Results showed that neither L1 nor L2 speakers demonstrated accurate intuitive judgments of phrasal frequency and association strength. Both groups of participants employed linguistic information at phrase and single‐word levels when giving intuitive statistical estimates. We found judgments of phrasal frequency and association strength to be intertwined for both L1 and L2 speakers. Taken together, these findings shed new insight on understanding language users’ statistical knowledge of multiword sequences.