bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fraying Over Paying: Who Will Bear The Costs Of Greenhouse Policy?
Authors: Snoddon* Tracy , Wigle** Randall
Published: November 2023

When the Kyoto Protocol came into force in February 2005, there was a rekindling of interest in climate change policy in Canada, culminating in the release of the federal government’s Project Green plan that year. Project Green and its precursor, the Climate Change Plan (CCP), proposed a mix of policy instruments including tradable permits, sectoral exemptions and a heavy reliance on voluntary and targeted measures to achieve the Kyoto target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 6 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010.1 Most of the targeted measures take the form of subsidies for the adoption of certain abatement technologies and command and control measures. Both plans have been criticized because they are likely to achieve only limited short-term reductions without helping to achieve future reductions at a more modest cost.2 The recent election of a conservative minority federal government in January 2006 has led to the effective demise of Project Green and an uncertain future for climate change policy in Canada. In this chapter, we investigate two alternatives to Project Green. Specifically, we consider the plan proposed by Jaccard, Rivers, and Horne (2004) with the alternative of a purely emissions-based scheme where all emitters are charged a price equal to the world price of carbon permits (international permit trading). The package proposed in Jaccard, Rivers, and Horne (2004) (hereinafter referred to as ‘JRH’) relies on market-oriented regulation and tradable permits. With these instruments, the JRH plan targets energy adoption decisions, laying the groundwork for larger medium to long-run reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Assessment Of Fiscal Measures On Atmospheric Pollution From Transport In Urban Areas1
Authors: Brůhová-Foltýnová Hana , Brůha Jan
Published: November 2023

The Czech Republic faces a number of problems in the transport sector. Since the mid-1990s, the volumes of both the passenger and freight transport have been growing and the modal split has changed at the same time. While car transport increased by 28 per cent over this period, passenger rail transport decreased by 18 per cent. The share of public urban transport has been substantially decreasing while the share of cars has been increasing (in the 1980s the share of public transport in passenger transport was more than 40 per cent, in 2005 the share of public transport dropped to 21 per cent).4 These changes, which have led to increased transport intensity, substantially contribute to the negative impact transport has on human health and the environment, especially in cities. The Czech Environmental Policy (2001) identifies air pollution caused by transport as one of the most serious environmental problems in the Czech Republic. Although pollutant concentrations have decreased by about 65 per cent over the last ten years, the concentrations of emissions (especially of particulate matter) often exceed health limits in many large cities, above all near transport routes.5 The positive effect of cleaner fuels and new technologies has been offset by an increase in the number of cars on the roads (the number of cars per 1,000 inhabitants has grown by over 60 per cent since 1990).6 Thus, the importance of transport regulation is apparent.
Revenue Neutral Environmental Tax Reform—Case Of The Czech Republic
Authors: Pavel Jan , Vitek1 Leoš
Published: November 2023

The Czech Republic, similar to other EU-25 countries, will have to introduce new environmental taxes. A majority of EU countries intend to accomplish revenue neutral Environmental Tax Reform (ETR) and compensate for expected budget revenues with (partial) tax reductions. Environmental taxes are one form of specific consumption taxes on goods and services. As summarized by the OECD (2006), there are three main characteristics that differentiate specific consumption taxes (excise duties) from value added taxes: (1) specific taxes are imposed on a small number of commodities, (2) they usually tax final consumption, and (3) their tax base is usually volume, not value. Although specific consumption taxes have been levied on a wide range of commodities, currently, the most predominant is taxation of fuels and tobacco products (Scasny, 2002). These taxes not only generate the majority of the excise duties, but they are also designed to reduce taxpayer consumption of the taxed commodities by influencing their preferences. Nevertheless, the number of excise duties in OECD countries classified as environmental taxes has remained more or less stable (OECD, 2006).
What click languages can and can’t tell us about language origins
Authors: Sands Bonny , Güldemann Tom
Published: November 2023

Click languages of Africa are often portrayed as ancient languages, with clicks being viewed as probable relics of an ancestral mother tongue. This view espouses a monogenetic origin of clicks, and assumes a linguistic conservatism particular to the languages referred to as “Khoisan” (or “Khoesan”). In this chapter, we challenge these views, presenting synchronic and diachronic linguistic evidence describing the linguistic evolution of clicks and click languages in the relatively recent human past.
Employment Law Checklists 2009
Authors: Palca Julia , Taylor Catherine
Published: November 2023

What are grounds for dismissal? When is a person redundant? What about equal pay? Employment Law Checklists provides the first point of reference for anyone whose work brings them into contact with employment law or human resources issues. The new edition of this practical and accessible guide to employment law has been fully updated to include developments in equality legislation, family friendly laws, TUPE, and statutory dispute provisions. Combining concise, cogent analysis with an appealing and easy to use checklist format, this title provides quick answers to a wide variety of employment law problems. It sets out clearly and concisely all the points which must be considered and the procedures which must be followed before employment decisions are made. The law relating to each topic is briefly described, followed by step-by-step guidance on how to approach each issue. The fourth edition of this title continues to present the law in a practical and user friendly format, bringing readers up to date with this fast-moving area of law.
End-Users
Authors: Castagnino John-Peter
Published: November 2023

In considering the investment management industry, difficult questions often arise as to the classification of investment vehicles in terms of their structure and the regulation to which they are subject, and regulation in part determines whether or not derivatives can be used, and the extent to which and the manner in which derivatives can be used. A crude distinction can be drawn between an arrangement for the management of a portfolio of investments carried out under a mandate, and a pooled investment arrangement. The management of a portfolio of investments under a mandate is usually undertaken either for individuals who enjoy substantial wealth or for institutions including pension schemes and charities. The management of a portfolio under a mandate is undertaken either by investment professionals who are employed for that purpose, such as the staff of a family office, or by an investment management firm. Many stockbrokers and private banks offer investment management services, often in conjunction with more general wealth management and estate planning services. An investment management firm accepting a mandate to manage a portfolio generally enters into an investment management agreement with the client, which specifies the methodology by which the client’s portfolio is to be managed. The investment management agreement should address matters such as the different types of asset which qualify for inclusion in the portfolio, the extent to which the portfolio is to be diversified, the degree of risk to which the portfolio is to be exposed, the use of derivatives and borrowing, any benchmark by which the performance.
Quantum mechanical laws
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

The experiment by Tonomura et al., discussed in Chapter 1 directly confirms the de Broglie relation (1.19). This leads us to define the state of a system, not in terms of simultaneous values of all canonical variables {p, q} as in classical mechanics, but as a sort of a wave.
Angular momentum
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

A central role is played by the angular momentum variables in three-dimensional problems. In quantum mechanics angular momentum turns out to be quantized in a universal manner, i.e., independently of the system considered, as a consequence of its characteristic commutation relations and of the positivity of the norm of the state.
Three-dimensional problems
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

In this chapter several simple three-dimensional systems are studied: the free particles, the potential well or barrier, the harmonic oscillator, and the hydrogen atom.
Perturbation theory
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

One of the most frequently used approximation methods—perturbation theory—will be discussed in this chapter. Often a physical system is characterized by an “unperturbed” Hamiltonian H0 whose spectrum is known, and by a small part of the Hamiltonian, the “perturbation” V .
Variational methods
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

An old but generally very powerful method of approximation is the variational approach. The main ideas involved and a few applications are considered in this chapter.
Time evolution
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

There is a vast class of interesting physical problems, however, which involve time-dependent Hamiltonians and which are not accessible to perturbative treatment. In this chapter, we discuss some of these systems.
Metastable states
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

In Nature various metastable states appear, i.e., states which, even though they behave like stationary states for a time duration longer than their characteristic periods of quantum motion, after much longer times make transitions to states in the continuum, i.e., decay. It suffices to think of all the excited states of atoms and molecules, or unstable nuclei, to realize the ubiquitous nature of the problem. Many examples of these processes have already been treated in the context of perturbation theory in Section 9.4; an analysis of a particle in external potentials has been made in the semi-classical approximation in Chapter 11.
Elastic scattering theory
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

In this chapter we shall discuss in an elementary fashion the problem of elastic scattering in quantum mechanics. Several approximation methods specific to scattering problems are discussed. Some of the issues have been discussed in connection with particular approximation schemes (perturbation theory, the semi-classcal approximation, and metastable states) in more specific terms: here we limit ourselves to the general features of the scattering problems.
Quantum entanglement
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

Two or more particles which have interacted in the past, may in general maintain nontrivial quantum mechanical correlations, described by non-factorized wave functions. These correlations, under optimal conditions, can manifest themselves no matter how far they travel away from each other and even when the separate parts cannot dynamically influence each other, leading to apparently paradoxical situations. These correlations are known as quantum entanglement. However counter-intuitive and surprising it may sometimes look, it is rather one of the more beautiful and experimentally well established predictions of quantum mechanics.
Supplements for Part I
Authors: Konishi Kenichi , Paffuti Giampiero
Published: November 2023

Let us review a few salient features of classical mechanics, for completeness.Newton’s equation for a particle moving under the inﬂuence of a force F is where p is momentum.
Ec and WTO Anti-Dumping Law
Authors: Müller Wolfgang , Khan Nicholas , Scharf Tibor
Published: November 2023

There are two marriages in every marital union, his and hers. Men and women live in worlds that are organized around gender, and their marriages reflect differing realities. As life companions, they respond to each other; but they also respond to the cultural definitions of what it means to be a husband and a wife. What has fascinated social and behavioral scientists for several years, however, is not only that husbands' and wives' experiences are different, but also that 'his' marriage is better than 'hers'. Numerous findings have reported that married men are better off than married women on measures of both physical and mental health, but the reasons are not yet fully understood. In Marriage in Men's Lives Dr. Nock proposes an explanation to this issue. He focuses on marriage as a system of rules, customs, and expectations. The book shows that marriage changes men on basic dimensions of achievement, participation in public social life, and philanthropy because marriage reinforces such behaviors as part of adult masculinity. Men in modern society crave well-being, comfort, luxury, and prestige, and marriage affords a means of achieving these things within circumscribed legitimate boundaries. Using a huge data base of over 6,000 interviews with men the author has studied since 1979, Nock draws some interesting and far-reaching conclusions about the nature of marriage, and predicts that marriage is definitely here to stay.
Article 22: Final Provisions
Authors: Müller Wolfgang , Khan Nicholas , Scharf Tibor
Published: November 2023

Basic Regulation 384/96 operates by way of complement to these Regulations. Article 22(b) also stipulates that Basic Regulation 384/96 derogates from any provision in these regulations precluding the application of anti-dumping duties. obligations pursuant to the GATT. It is difficult to define the exact field of application of Article 22(c). So far, the Community has only rarely applied such special measures. One fairly old example is certain nuts of iron or steel from Taiwan. Should a problem similar to the one encountered in the Taiwanese proceeding arise today, it would probably be dealt with under Article 8(9), (10) of Basic Regulation 384/96. It should also be noted that the Court has held that the Community institutions could not enact a measure sui generis based directly on Article 133 of the EC Treaty rather than the Basic Regulation, if the whole proceeding was carried out within the context of the provisions laid down by that Basic Regulation. The Court went on to say that the Council, having adopted a general regulation with a view to implementing one of the objectives of Article 133 of the EC Treaty, could not derogate from the rules laid down in applying those rules to specific cases without interfering with the legislative system of the Community and destroying the equality before the law of those to whom that law applied. A more recent example is the special measures which had been adopted in the context of enlargement of the Community in 2004. It was necessary to adjust temporarily anti-dumping measures which had been adopted by the Community of 15 Member States.
The Unsustainable Dependence Of Spanish Local Treasuries On Taxes And Charges Related To Construction Activities
Authors: Puig-Ventosa Dr Ignasi
Published: November 2023

During recent decades, urban areas in Spain have experienced an unprecedented level of growth which has been exacerbated in recent years. Between 1987 and 2000, developed land increased by 29.5 per cent, with estimated projections for 2005 and 2010 being 41 and 52 per cent higher than in 1987, respectively. The transformation from high to low density developments and the frantic construction of new residences and industrial areas account for most of this transformation.

Although the process has affected almost the whole country, it has not been homogeneous, with hot spots around the coast (79 per cent of all residences built in Spain between 1990 and 2000), mainly in the Mediterranean (see, for example, the occupation of the coastline, in Table 29.1), and in the metropolitan area of Madrid.

In 2005 alone, more than 800,000 new homes were approved, more than those built in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom put together, despite those countries having almost fi ve times the Spanish population. Consequently, according to Eurostat, Spain has exceeded all of these countries and others like Sweden in terms of number of homes per 1,000 inhabitants.
Border tax adjustments, wto law, and climate protection
Authors: Ekardt Professor Dr Felix , Schmeichel Diplomjuristin Andrea
Published: November 2023

The law aims at resolving con?icts between people with colliding interests. Accordingly, law is the instrument that makes politics binding; but at the same time, it is also the normative framework, the ‘ought’, which has to be respected by politics. As many social con?icts in the globalized world cannot be resolved at a national level, the law is becoming not only increasingly European, but also increasingly international. This is especially true for environmental law. Notwithstanding, the impact of international environmental law, which mostly does not set ambitious goals or even appropriate enforcing mechanisms for the existing goals (for example, the Kyoto Protocol), is limited. More important is the potent international trade law. A complex network of liberalization agreements has emerged, culminating in the foundation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as an international organisation encompassing the vast majority of states, with the most important agreement being the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947 and 1994). These agreements aim at a free—ie liberalized—market for goods, services, etc. Even though the hierarchy of norms between international economic law, European and national law is controversial and unclear, it can be said that world trade law may impose binding and quite extensive rules on national states and the European Union (EU). This challenges comprehensively the ability of nation states to enact policies according to their own agendas, as far as this is at all conceivable in a global economy. This impacts national and European economic instruments of climate policy in particular.
Environmental Taxation In The Management Of Traffic In Singapore
Authors: Lye Lin-Heng
Published: November 2023

The tiny island state of Singapore has one of the most complicated systems of vehicular ownership, use, and taxation in the world. An earlier paper examined the many innovative and integrated measures introduced to control vehicular population and road usage in Singapore, with particular focus on the use of taxation. These measures were intended to make prohibitive the cost of vehicle ownership as well as its use, in order to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Biofuels, megacities, and green taxes: the whys and wherefores of non-fiscal fuel taxation. Brazil in world context
Authors: Domingues José Marcos
Published: November 2023

Last winter, the melting of Argentinian glaciers very close to the Antarctic continent attracted the attention of the whole world. In the wake of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, preceded by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, global warming has become a major environmental priority of the Brazilian leadership. Some 72.6 per cent of Brazilian leaders consider themselves highly motivated to learn more about climate change and 60.8 per cent of the aggregate response take environmental problems as the major challenge facing Brazil in the next twenty years.
An Examination Of The Environmental Impact Of Key Us Transportation-Related Tax Provisions
Authors: McClain Bruce W , Lee Paul J , Tavallali Rahmat
Published: November 2023

This chapter examines the environmental effect of a number of selected transportation-related tax provisions, and also discusses the expansion of such provisions as contained in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 20084 and Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008.5 It examines these various provisions in US tax law related to the environment and transportation, and what effect such provisions tend to have on the environment. It also discusses how the recently enacted 2008 Acts are extending benefits for environmentally friendly activity in the US. The chapter also points out that there appears to be a schizophrenic approach; some US tax provisions appear to help or favour environmentally friendly behaviour, while others seem to encourage or reward activities or choices that tend to be environmentally unfriendly.
Environmental Impact Of Local Taxes And Fees In Germany
Authors: Böhm Monika
Published: November 2023

Local governments often have to fight environmental problems they did not cause. They are, for example responsible for garbage collection and waste-water treatment, but—at least in Germany—have little or no in?uence in setting limits for the use of packaging or relevant parameters for pollutants and toxic sub- stances in waste water. Command-and-control regulations in this field are mostly set by federal law and increasingly by European law. Quite often these are not ‘tight’ enough to prevent environmental problems on the local level. How can municipalities play an active role in minimizing their environmental problems? One possible way is to supplement federal command-and-control regulations by local regulations. However, municipalities in Germany do not usually have the legal power to tighten limits set at the federal or European level.
The Mathematical Theory Of Symmetry In Solids
Authors: Bradley C J , Cracknell A P
Published: November 2023

This book gives the complete theory of the irreducible representations of the crystallographic point groups and space groups. This is important in the quantum-mechanical study of a particle or quasi-particle in a molecule or crystalline solid because the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of a system belong to the irreducible representations of the group of symmetry operations of that system. The theory is applied to give complete tables of these representations for all the 32 point groups and 230 space groups, including the double-valued representations. For the space groups, the group of the symmetry operations of the k vector and its irreducible representations are given for all the special points of symmetry, lines of symmetry and planes of symmetry in the Brillouin zone. Applications occur in the electronic band structure, phonon dispersion relations and selection rules for particle-quasiparticle interactions in solids. The theory is extended to the corepresentations of the Shubnikov (black and white) point groups and space groups.
Freedom of Expression
Authors: Stone Adrienne
Published: November 2023

Freedom of expression is widely protected in Asian constitutions in keeping with its global status as a near universal tenet of modern constitutionalism. In many respects, the protection of freedom of expression in Asian constitutions takes a familiar form. Its textual and doctrinal manifestations draw upon, and resemble, the law of freedom of expression seen in other constitutions. However, when it comes to matters of substance differences abound. Just as in the rest of the world, in Asia differing views on freedom of expression are evident, even as between closely related constitutional systems. Indeed, the diversity of approaches to freedom of speech in the region makes out the claim that there is no distinctively Asian form of constitutionalism, though certain common themes are evident.
Inducible Expression of the Restriction Enzyme Uncovered Genome-Wide Distribution and Dynamic Behavior of Histones H4K16ac and H2A.Z at DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kawaguchi Kohei , Kazama Mei , Hata Takayuki , Matsuo Mitsuhiro , Obokata Junichi , Satoh Soichirou
Published: November 2023

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are among the most serious types of DNA damage, causing mutations and chromosomal rearrangements. In eukaryotes, DSBs are immediately repaired in coordination with chromatin remodeling for the deposition of DSB-related histone modifications and variants. To elucidate the details of DSB-dependent chromatin remodeling throughout the genome, artificial DSBs need to be reproducibly induced at various genomic loci. Recently, a comprehensive method for elucidating chromatin remodeling at multiple DSB loci via chemically induced expression of a restriction enzyme was developed in mammals. However, this DSB induction system is unsuitable for investigating chromatin remodeling during and after DSB repair, and such an approach has not been performed in plants. Here, we established a transgenic Arabidopsis plant harboring a restriction enzyme gene Sbf I driven by a heat-inducible promoter. Using this transgenic line, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) of histones H4K16ac and H2A.Z and investigated the dynamics of these histone marks around the endogenous 623 Sbf I recognition sites. We also precisely quantified DSB efficiency at all cleavage sites using the DNA resequencing data obtained by the ChIP-seq procedure. From the results, Sbf I–induced DSBs were detected at 360 loci, which induced the transient deposition of H4K16ac and H2A.Z around these regions. Interestingly, we also observed the co-localization of H4K16ac and H2A.Z at some DSB loci. Overall, DSB-dependent chromatin remodeling was found to be highly conserved between plants and animals. These findings provide new insights into chromatin remodeling that occurs in response to DSBs in Arabidopsis.
MiRiQ Database: A Platform for In Silico Rice Mutant Screening
Authors: Kubo Takahiko , Yamagata Yoshiyuki , Matsusaka Hiroaki , Toyoda Atsushi , Sato Yutaka , Kumamaru Toshihiro
Published: November 2023

Genetic studies using mutant resources have significantly contributed to elucidating plant gene function. Massive mutant libraries sequenced by next-generation sequencing technology facilitate mutant identification and functional analysis of genes of interest. Here, we report the creation and release of an open-access database (https://miriq.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/index.php), called Mutation-induced Rice in Kyushu University (MiRiQ), designed for in silico mutant screening based on a whole-genome-sequenced mutant library. This database allows any user to easily find mutants of interest without laborious efforts such as large-scale screening by PCR. The initial version of the MiRiQ database (version 1.0) harbors a total of 1.6 million single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and InDels of 721 M1 plants that were mutagenized by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea treatment of the rice cultivar Nipponbare (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica). The SNVs were distributed among 87% of all 35,630 annotated protein-coding genes of the Nipponbare genome and were predicted to induce missense and nonsense mutations. The MiRiQ database provides built-in tools, such as a search tool by keywords and JBrowse for mutation searches. Users can request mutant seeds in the M2 or M3 generations from a request form linked to this database. We believe that the availability of a wide range of gene mutations in this database will benefit the plant science community and breeders worldwide by accelerating functional genomic research and crop improvement.
Life-Cycle Multiomics of Rice Shoots Reveals Growth Stage–Specific Effects of Drought Stress and Time–Lag Drought Responses
Authors: Soma Fumiyuki , Kitomi Yuka , Kawakatsu Taiji , Uga Yusaku
Published: November 2023

Field-grown rice plants are exposed to various stresses at different stages of their life cycle, but little is known about the effects of stage-specific stresses on phenomes and transcriptomes. In this study, we performed integrated time-course multiomics on rice at 3-d intervals from seedling to heading stage under six drought conditions in a well-controlled growth chamber. Drought stress at seedling and reproductive stages reduced yield performance by reducing seed number and setting rate, respectively. High temporal resolution analysis revealed that drought response occurred in two steps: a rapid response via the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway and a slightly delayed DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEIN (DREB) pathway, allowing plants to respond flexibly to deteriorating soil water conditions. Our long-term time-course multiomics showed that temporary drought stress delayed flowering due to prolonged expression of the flowering repressor gene GRAIN NUMBER, PLANT HEIGHT AND HEADING DATE 7 (Ghd7) and delayed expression of the florigen genes HEADING DATE 3a (Hd3a) and RICE FLOWERING LOCUS T 1 (RFT1). Our life-cycle multiomics dataset on rice shoots under drought conditions provides a valuable resource for further functional genomic studies to improve crop resilience to drought stress.
MdbHLH160 is stabilized via reduced MdBT2-mediated degradation to promote MdSOD1 and MdDREB2A-like expression for apple drought tolerance
Authors: Mao Ke , Yang Jie , Sun Yunxia , Guo Xin , Qiu Lina , Mei Quanlin , Li Na , Ma Fengwang
Published: November 2023

Drought stress is a key environmental factor limiting the productivity, quality, and geographic distribution of crops worldwide. Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in plant drought stress responses, but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report an ABA-responsive bHLH transcription factor, MdbHLH160, which promotes drought tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and apple (Malus domestica). Under drought conditions, MdbHLH160 is directly bound to the MdSOD1 (superoxide dismutase 1) promoter and activated its transcription, thereby triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and enhancing apple drought tolerance. MdbHLH160 also promoted MdSOD1 enzyme activity and accumulation in the nucleus through direct protein interactions, thus inhibiting excessive nuclear ROS levels. Moreover, MdbHLH160 directly upregulated the expression of MdDREB2A-like, a DREB (dehydration-responsive element binding factor) family gene that promotes apple drought tolerance. Protein degradation and ubiquitination assays showed that drought and ABA treatment stabilized MdbHLH160. The BTB protein MdBT2 was identified as an MdbHLH160-interacting protein that promoted MdbHLH160 ubiquitination and degradation, and ABA treatment substantially inhibited this process. Overall, our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of ABA-modulated drought tolerance at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels via the ABA–MdBT2–MdbHLH160–MdSOD1/MdDREB2A-like cascade.
What Can Voting Do for Democracy?
Authors: Pottle Justin
Published: November 2023

Empirical political scientists and normative political theorists alike have challenged the grip elections hold on our democratic imagination, albeit for very different reasons. Against both sets of critics, Emilee Booth Chapman’s remarkable and timely new book Election Day: How We Vote and What it Means for Democracy makes a compelling case for the ballot box’s unique place in democratic theory as a site of collective agency among political equals. Chapman offers an invaluable framework for navigating the shifting character of the American voting system and the innumerable proposals for improving it. But at the same time, this essay argues that in face of American democracy’s moral failures, Election Day reveals as much about the limits of well-ordered elections as it does their democratic promise.
Early-life risk factors, accelerated biological aging and the late-life risk of mortality and morbidity
Authors: Gao X , Wang Y , Song Z , Jiang M , Huang T , Baccarelli A A
Published: November 2023

Background

Early-life exposure increases health risks throughout an individual’s lifetime. Biological aging is influenced by early-life risks as a key process of disease development, but whether early-life risks could accelerate biological aging and elevate late-life mortality and morbidity risks remains unknown. Knowledge is also limited on the potential moderating role of healthy lifestyle.

Methods

We investigate associations of three early-life risks around birth, breastfeeding, maternal smoking and birth weight, with biological aging of 202 580 UK Biobank participants (54.9 ± 8.1 years old). Biological aging was quantified as KDM-BA, PhenoAge and frailty. Moderate alcohol intake, no current smoking, healthy diet, BMI <30 kg/m2 and regular physical activity were considered as healthy lifestyles. Mortality and morbidity data were retrieved from health records.

Results

Individual early-life risk factors were robustly associated with accelerated biological aging. A one-unit increase in the ‘early-life risk score’ integrating the three factors was associated with 0.060 (SE=0.0019) and 0.036-unit (SE = 0.0027) increase in z-scored KDM-BA acceleration and PhenoAge acceleration, respectively, and with 22.3% higher odds (95% CI: 1.185–1.262) of frailty. Increased chronological age and healthy lifestyles could mitigate the accelerations of KDM-BA and PhenoAge, respectively. Associations of early-life risk score with late-life mortality and morbidity were mediated by biological aging (proportions: 5.66–43.12%). KDM-BA and PhenoAge accelerations could significantly mediate the impact on most outcomes except anxiety, and frailty could not mediate the impact on T2D.

Conclusion

Biological aging could capture and mediate the late-life health risks stemming from the early-life risks, and could be potentially targeted for healthy longevity promotion.
Mapping the contributions of dyadic approaches to couples’ psychosocial adaptation to prostate cancer: a scoping review
Authors: Castro Rita F , Araújo Silvana , Marques Ana , Ferreira Diana , Rocha Hélia , Aguiar Sandra , Pieramico Sonia , Quinta-Gomes Ana , Tavares Inês M , Nobre Pedro J , Carvalho Joana
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Prostate cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer diagnosis worldwide among males. Although prostate cancer affects the physical, sexual, and mental health of patients, the impact of prostate cancer on partners has also been increasingly recognized. Hence, taking a dyadic approach is of relevance. Moreover, there is evidence of the utility of dyadic approaches to the study of relational stress that chronic diseases such as prostate cancer can bring to couples, even though knowledge is sparse about prostate cancer.

Objectives

This scoping review aimed to map existing dyadic studies on the psychosocial adaptation of couples to prostate cancer.

Methods

A systematic search of studies published from 2005 to November 2022 was conducted on electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHost, Scopus, and Web of Science) following PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses–Extension for Scoping Reviews).

Results

The review included 25 eligible studies from the initial 2514 articles retrieved. Overall, the results emphasized the interdependency between couple members and suggested how partners’ adaptation influences patients’ adaptation to prostate cancer and vice versa, regarding several psychosocial dimensions (eg, intimacy, quality of life).

Conclusions

This work can bring awareness to health care professionals to adopt a couples approach when managing prostate cancer whenever there is a partner, due to these interdependent influences. For researchers and future studies, this work can strengthen the relevance of dyadic approaches on how couples adapt to prostate cancer and explore which other dimensions influence these complex dynamics.
Bark wounding triggers gradual embolism spreading in two diffuse-porous tree species
Authors: Jupa Radek , Pokorná Kamila
Published: November 2023

Xylem transport is essential for the growth, development and survival of vascular plants. Bark wounding may increase the risk of xylem transport failure by tension-driven embolism. However, the consequences of bark wounding for xylem transport are poorly understood. Here, we examined the impacts of the bark wounding on embolism formation, leaf water potential and gas exchange in the terminal branches of two diffuse-porous tree species (Acer platanoides L. and Prunus avium L.). The effects of bark removal were examined on field-grown mature trees exposed to increased evaporative demands on a short-term and longer-term basis (6 h vs 6 days after bark wounding). Bark removal of 30% of branch circumference had a limited effect on the xylem hydraulic conductivity when embolized vessels were typically restricted to the last annual ring near the bark wound. Over the 6-day exposure, the non-conductive xylem area had significantly increased in the xylem tissue underneath the bark wound (from 22–29% to 51–52% of the last annual ring area in the bark wound zone), pointing to gradual yet relatively limited embolism spreading to deeper xylem layers over time. In both species, the bark removal tended to result in a small but non-significant increase in the percent loss of hydraulic conductivity compared with control intact branches 6 days after bark wounding (from 6 to 8–10% in both species). The bark wounding had no significant effects on midday leaf water potential, CO2 assimilation rates, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency of the leaves of the current-year shoot, possibly due to limited impacts on xylem transport. The results of this study demonstrate that bark wounding induces limited but gradual embolism spreading. However, the impacts of bark wounding may not significantly limit water delivery to distal organs and leaf gas exchange at the scale of several days.
Making Data Count: Estimating a Poverty Trend for Nigeria between 2009 and 2019
Authors: Lain Jonathan , Schoch Marta , Vishwanath Tara
Published: November 2023

Monitoring poverty reduction requires frequent microdata on household welfare that can be compared over time. Such data are unavailable in many countries, given limited statistical capacity, shocks that prevent data collection, and regular improvements to survey methodology. This paper demonstrates how jointly deploying backcasting and survey-to-survey imputations can help to overcome this in a setting where estimating a poverty trend is badly needed, given the scale of the poverty-reduction challenge, but where survey-to-survey imputations are more likely to succeed and can be directly tested. In Nigeria, the most recent official survey that can be used to construct an imputation model was collected through the same methodology and in the same year as the target survey. This data landscape could arise in other settings where the methodology for smaller, interstitial surveys is updated more quickly than for larger, official consumption surveys. Naively comparing Nigeria's last two official consumption surveys would suggest that the poverty rate fell by 17 percentage points between 2009 and 2019. Yet the methods presented in this paper both suggest a much smaller reduction in poverty of between 3 and 7 percentage points, echoing Nigeria's performance on nonmonetary welfare indicators over the same period. The paper therefore provides guidance on when and how backcasting and survey-to-survey imputation techniques can be most valuable for monitoring poverty reduction.
Comparison of midurethral tape with autologous rectus fascial sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Güler Yavuz
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To compare the success rates of autologous fascial mesh (sling and transobturator tape [TOT]) with midurethral synthetic meshes (tension-free vaginal tape sling [TVT] and TOT) for stress urinary incontinence.

Materials and methods

A literature search for studies published in English was conducted from May 10, 2022, to June 1, 2022. The search included MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest, using the terms{“Autologous fascial slings”}OR {“AFS”} AND{“TOT”} OR {“Transobturator tape”} OR{“TVT”} OR{“Transvaginal tape”}. A total of 20 studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials, were selected for the review. RevMan software (version 5.3) was used to calculate the pooled effect estimates for operative and postoperative variables.

Results

In the systemic review, 20 studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials, were assessed. In the TVT versus autologous pubovaginal sling (A-PVS) groups, the effect estimates for the surgical duration, catheter duration, success, and complication rates were more advantageous for TVT. However, in comparison to autologous transobturator tape groups, TOT provided better operative time and a shorter hospital stay. Moreover, in comparison to the A-PVS group, the TOT group was superior in terms of operating time, urethral catheterization, hospital stay, amount of residual urine, and wound complications. The A-PVS group had significantly more groin and thigh pain.

Conclusions

During medium- and long-term follow-ups, the use of autologous rectus fascia grafts using a A-PVS or TOT provided similar complication rates and urinary continence results as using midurethral synthetic meshes (TVT and TOT).
Partial versus radical nephrectomy for T1b renal cell carcinoma: A comparison of efficacy and prognostic factors based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database
Authors: Ren Kong , Wu Fei , Wu Haihu , Ning Hao , Lyu Jiaju
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study compared the long-term efficacy and prognostic factors of partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) for T1bN0M0 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 12,471 patients diagnosed with T1bN0M0 RCC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2019. Patients were divided into the PN and RN groups, and propensity score matching was conducted to balance the differences between the groups. We compared overall survival (OS), RCC cancer–specific mortality (CSM), and noncancer-specific mortality (NCSM) between the 2 groups. The risk factors for all-cause and RCC-related mortality were analyzed.

Results

After propensity score matching, there were 3817 patients in each group. After matching, OS and NCSM were significantly longer in the PN group (p < 0.001); however, there was no significant between-group difference in the RCC-CSM. The hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the PN group (HR, 0.671; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.579–0.778, p < 0.001), but PN was not associated with lower RCC-related mortality. Subgroup analysis showed that PN reduced the HR of all-cause mortality by 35% (HR, 0.647; 95% CI, 0.536–0.781; p < 0.001) in patients with 4.0- to 5.5-cm tumors compared with RN and by 29% (HR, 0.709; 95% CI, 0.559–0.899; p = 0.004) in those with larger tumors (5.6–7.0 cm). Multifactorial analysis showed that PN was an independent predictor of OS (HR, 0.671; 95% CI, 0.579–0.778; p < 0.001). In addition, multivariate analysis validated that age at diagnosis, sex, pathological grade, and tumor size were associated with outcomes.

Conclusions

In patients with T1b RCC, PN resulted in better OS and NCSM outcomes than RN. The benefit of PN in all-cause mortality was pronounced in patients with 4.0–5.5 cm tumor loads. Therefore, individualized treatment schemes should prioritize PN, when technically feasible.
HMGB2 is a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis
Authors: Huang Yi , Liangpunsakul Suthat , Rudraiah Swetha , Ma Jing , Keshipeddy Santosh K. , Wright Dennis , Costa Antonio , Burgess Diane , Zhang Yuxia , Huda Nazmul , Wang Li , Yang Zhihong
Published: November 2023

Background:

High mobility group proteins 1 and 2 (HMGB1 and HMGB2) are 80% conserved in amino acid sequence. The function of HMGB1 in inflammation and fibrosis has been extensively characterized. However, an unaddressed central question is the role of HMGB2 on liver fibrosis. In this study, we provided convincing evidence that the HMGB2 expression was significantly upregulated in human liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, as well as in several mouse liver fibrosis models.

Methods:

The carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis mouse model was used. AAV8-Hmgb2 was utilized to overexpress Hmgb2 in the liver, while Hmgb2−/−
mice were used for loss of function experiments. The HMGB2 inhibitor inflachromene and liposome-shHMGB2 (lipo-shHMGB2) were employed for therapeutic intervention.

Results:

The serum HMGB2 levels were also markedly elevated in patients with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Deletion of Hmgb2 in Hmgb2−/−
mice or inhibition of HMGB2 in mice using a small molecule ICM slowed the progression of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis despite constant HMGB1 expression. In contrast, AAV8-mediated overexpression of Hmgb2 enchanced CCl4-incuded liver fibrosis. Primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) isolated from Hmgb2−/−
mice showed significantly impaired transdifferentiation and diminished activation of α-SMA, despite a modest induction of HMGB1 protein. RNA-seq analysis revealed the induction of top 45 CCl4-activated genes in multiple signaling pathways including integrin signaling and inflammation. The activation of these genes by CCl4 were abolished in Hmgb2−/−
mice or in ICM-treated mice. These included C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (Cx3cr1) associated with inflammation, cyclin B (Ccnb) associated with cell cycle, DNA topoisomerase 2-alpha (Top2a) associated with intracellular component, and fibrillin (Fbn) and fibromodulin (Fmod) associated with extracellular matrix.

Conclusion:

We conclude that HMGB2 is indispensable for stellate cell activation. Therefore, HMGB2 may serve as a potential therapeutic target to prevent HSC activation during chronic liver injury. The blood HMGB2 level may also serve as a potential diagnostic marker to detect early stage of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in humans.