bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy: the role of intelligence, life history, and social support—preliminary results from a monocentric analysis
Authors: Piroth Marc D. , Draia Silvia , Jawad Jehad Abu , Piefke Martina
Published: March 2022

Purpose

It is known that the diagnosis of breast cancer often causes anxiety and depression. Radiotherapy of the breast as an obligatory part of a breast-conserving treatment concept can markedly increase these psychological symptoms in many, but not all patients. In this clinical observational study, we aimed at identifying cognitive, health-related and social factors that may either enhance or reduce the emergence of anxiety and depression.

Methods

Using a longitudinal study design with 25 women (mean age: 52.9 years; SD = 10.6; age range 29–70 years) with a first diagnosis of nonmetastatic breast cancer, measures of anxiety, depression, situational emotional states, intelligence, and aspects of social frameworks were assessed before, during, and after radiotherapy of the breast. At 4 time-points, standard and self-constructed questionnaires were used to assess the course of anxiety and depressive symptoms across the radiotherapy intervention.

Results

We found that anxiety is highest immediately before the start of radiation therapy, while the anxiety level was lowest on the day that therapy was completed. Anxiety and depression were enhanced in women with a lifetime history of chronic diseases at all time points of measurement. Moreover, women with high intelligence and low social support had stronger symptoms of depression than women with low intelligence and a stable family background at some time points of measurement. The degree of anxiety was neither related to intelligence nor to social support.

Conclusion

For the first time, we demonstrate empirical pilot data on cognitive and social modulators of anxiety and depression in women with breast cancer over the course of radiotherapy. Our results may help to optimize clinical procedures and thereby reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in these patients.
Maturation of beta cells: lessons from in vivo and in vitro models
Authors: Barsby Tom , Otonkoski Timo
Published: March 2022

The ability to maintain normoglycaemia, through glucose-sensitive insulin release, is a key aspect of postnatal beta cell function. However, terminally differentiated beta cell identity does not necessarily imply functional maturity. Beta cell maturation is therefore a continuation of beta cell development, albeit a process that occurs postnatally in mammals. Although many important features have been identified in the study of beta cell maturation, as of yet no unified mechanistic model of beta cell functional maturity exists. Here, we review recent findings about the underlying mechanisms of beta cell functional maturation. These findings include systemic hormonal and nutritional triggers that operate through energy-sensing machinery shifts within beta cells, resulting in primed metabolic states that allow for appropriate glucose trafficking and, ultimately, insulin release. We also draw attention to the expansive synergistic nature of these pathways and emphasise that beta cell maturation is dependent on overlapping regulatory and metabolic networks.

Graphical abstract
Bendamustine plus rituximab in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Murayama Kayoko , Kiguchi Toru , Izutsu Koji , Kameoka Yoshihiro , Hidaka Michihiro , Kato Harumi , Rai Shinya , Kuroda Junya , Ishizawa Kenichi , Ichikawa Satoshi , Ando Kiyoshi , Ogura Michinori , Fukushima Koji , Terui Yasuhito
Published: March 2022

This single-arm phase 3 study was conducted to confirm the results of our phase 2 study of bendamustine (B)-rituximab (R) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (rrDLBCL). The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Autologous stem cell transplantation-ineligible rrDLBCL patients with ≤ 2 prior chemotherapy regimens received R 375 mg/m2 IV on day 1 and B 120 mg/m2/day IV on days 2 and 3 every 21 days up to 6 cycles. Thirty-eight patients with a median age of 74 years (range, 43–86) received BR. The ORR and complete response rates were 76.3% and 47.4%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 19.5 months including long-term follow-up, median progression-free survival was 11.9 months. Median OS was 29.2 months. Discontinuation of treatment due to Gr3-5 TEAE was observed among 13 of 38 patients (34.2%). One patient with cytomegalovirus enterocolitis died during follow-up. This BR regimen was confirmed to be effective and tolerable in studied patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03372837 registered on 14 December 2017, NCT04354402 registered on 21 April, 2020.
Immunoprotection against mixed Eimeria spp. infections in goat kids induced by X-irradiated oocysts
Authors: Barba Emilio , Guedes Aránzazu Carmen , Molina José Manuel , Martín Sergio , Muñoz María Carmen , Ferrer Otilia , Lara Pedro Carlos , Hermosilla Carlos , Taubert Anja , Ruiz Antonio
Published: March 2022

Strategies to control goat coccidiosis traditionally rely on the use of management practices combined with anticoccidial treatments, and limited effort has been made, so far, to address immunological control of caprine Eimeria infections. Previously, we showed that monospecific immunization with X-Rad-attenuated Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae oocysts induced considerable immunoprotection upon challenge. In the present study, we conducted a similar vaccination trial but using a mixture of caprine Eimeria species typically present in natural infected goats. For immunization, sporulated oocysts were attenuated by X irradiation (20 kilorad). All infections were performed orally applying 105 sporulated oocysts of mixed Eimeria spp. per animal. In total, 18 goat kids were grouped as follows: (G1) immunized + challenge infected; (G2) primary + challenge infected; (G3) challenge infection control; and (G4) non-immunized/non-infected control. Overall, goat kids infected with attenuated oocysts (= immunized) shed less oocysts in the faeces and showed a lower degree of clinical coccidiosis than animals infected with non-attenuated oocysts. Animals of both challenge groups (G1 and G2) showed partial immunoprotection upon reinfection when compared to challenge infection control (G3). However, the degree of immunoprotection was less pronounced than recently reported for monospecific vaccination against Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae, most probably due to the complexity of the pathogenesis and related immune responses against mixed Eimeria spp. infections. Nevertheless, the data of the present study demonstrate that immunization with attenuated Eimeria spp. oocysts may be worth pursuing as a strategy to control goat coccidiosis.
The implication of holocytochrome c synthase mutation in Korean familial hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Choi Hyejin , Lee Kwanghwan , Kim Donghyo , Kim Sanguk , Lee Jae Hoon
Published: March 2022

Objectives

This study aimed to comprehensively characterise genetic variants of amelogenesis imperfecta in a single Korean family through whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Material and methods

Thirty-one individuals of a Korean family, 9 of whom were affected and 22 unaffected by amelogenesis imperfecta, were enrolled. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on 12 saliva samples, including samples from 8 affected and 4 unaffected individuals. The possible candidate genes associated with the disease were screened by segregation analysis and variant filtering. In silico mutation impact analysis was then performed on the filtered variants based on sequence conservation and protein structure.

Results

Whole-exome sequencing data revealed an X-linked dominant, heterozygous genomic missense mutation in the mitochondrial gene holocytochrome c synthase (HCCS). We also found that HCCS is potentially related to the role of mitochondria in amelogenesis. The HCCS variant was expected to be deleterious in both evolution-based and large population-based analyses. Further, the variant was predicted to have a negative effect on catalytic function of HCCS by in silico analysis of protein structure. In addition, HCCS had significant association with amelogenesis in literature mining analysis.

Conclusions

These findings suggest new evidence for the relationship between amelogenesis and mitochondria function, which could be implicated in the pathogenesis of amelogenesis imperfecta.

Clinical relevance

The discovery of HCCS mutations and a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of amelogenesis imperfecta could lead to finding solutions for the fundamental treatment of this disease. Furthermore, it enables dental practitioners to establish predictable prosthetic treatment plans at an early stage by early detection of amelogenesis imperfecta through personalised medicine.
Ruppell’s fox movement and spatial behavior are influenced by topography and human activity
Authors: Barocas Adi , Hefner Reuven , Ucko Michal , Shalmon Benny , Leader Noam , Geffen Eli
Published: March 2022

Global climatic processes have driven an expansion of arid environments, as well as the human populations that depend on these biomes. Human habitation can influence desert ecosystems directly through changes in land use and indirectly through the introduction of alien species that compete with locally adapted fauna. Native species can respond to these processes by spatial or temporal avoidance. Ruppell’s fox is a desert-adapted species inhabiting flat, rocky arid areas that feeds mainly on invertebrates and rodents. We used location data and step selection functions to study the space use of a population in southern Israel. We hypothesized that Ruppell’s fox movement would be influenced by topography due to preference for creeks, where insects and rodents are available, and by human infrastructure as the presence of humans, vehicles and associated animals may induce a fear effect on native species. Ruppell’s fox habitat selection was seasonal. During the dry season, foxes showed preference for flatter areas and creek bottoms and avoided paved roads. During the rainy season, foxes avoided less- trafficked dirt roads. These patterns were likely a consequence of increased territoriality due to denning in the colder season and reduced availability of insects in the dry season. Avoidance of paved and dirt roads may be explained by fear of human presence and perception of risk due to the use of linear features by larger carnivores, such as wolves and red foxes. Our results suggest that current protected, remote and uninhabited areas have an elevated value for the persistence of Ruppell’s fox populations. We recommend limitation of vehicle movement within current reserves and continued monitoring of population trends for this little studied carnivore.
Evaluation of the anterior chamber angle by anterior segment optical coherence tomography after implantable phakic contact lens implantation in myopic eyes
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed Salah El-Din , Mohamed Asmaa Anwar , Zein Hosny Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the changes in the angle of the AC and lens vault after IPCL implantation by AS-OCT in myopic patients.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study involving 30 myopic eyes implanted with IPCL. AS-OCT was used to evaluate lens vault and AC angle parameters including anterior chamber angle, angle opening distance and trabecular-iris space area (TISA) at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Results

All 3 AC angle parameters were significantly reduced at the 1st postoperative month compared to preoperative values, but remained stable thereafter with no significant change at the 3rd or 6th postoperative months. The lens vault showed no significant change over the entire follow-up period.

Conclusion

IPCL implantation is a safe method for correction of myopia with stable AC angle narrowing over the course of 6 months postoperatively as monitored using AS-OCT.
Dexamethasone-loaded keratin films for ocular surface reconstruction
Authors: Schwab Rebekka , Reichl Stephan
Published: March 2022

Amniotic membrane (AM) is often applied as a substitute material during ocular surface reconstruction. However, since AM has several disadvantages, alternative materials must be considered for this application. Keratin films made from human hair (KFs) have previously been presented as a promising option; they exhibited suitable characteristics and satisfactory biocompatibility in an in vivo rabbit model. Nevertheless, dexamethasone (DEX) eye drops are necessary after surgery to suppress inflammation. Since eye drops must be administered frequently, this might result in poor patient compliance, and the release of DEX at the transplant site would be clinically beneficial. Therefore, we aimed to incorporate DEX into KFs without hindering the positive film characteristics. Drug-loaded KFs were generated either by suspension technique or by the addition of solubilizing agents. The resulting specimens were analyzed regarding appearance, loading capacity, transparency, mechanical characteristics, swelling behavior and in vitro release. Furthermore, biocompatibility was assessed in vitro by determining the cell viability, seeding efficiency and growth behavior of corneal epithelial cells. The amount of incorporated DEX influenced the transparency and biomechanical properties of the films, but even highly loaded films showed properties similar to those of AM. The suspension technique was identified as the best incorporation approach regarding chemical stability and prolonged DEX release. Moreover, suspended DEX in the films did not negatively impact cell seeding efficiencies, and the cell-growth behaviors on the specimens with moderate DEX loads were satisfactory. This suggest that these films could comprise a suitable alternative material with additional anti-inflammatory activity for ocular surface reconstruction.
The Relevance of Religion for Political Office: Voter Bias Toward Candidates from Different Religious Backgrounds
Authors: Madrid Raul , Merolla Jennifer L. , Yanez Ruiz Aldo , Schroedel Jean Reith
Published: March 2022

Over the last several decades, Gallup data shows an increased willingness among members of the public to support presidential candidates from a wide range of religious backgrounds, though a nontrivial proportion of the public is still unwilling to vote for an Atheist, Mormon, or Muslim. What underlies this opposition? We argue that voters evaluate candidates from religious out-groups more negatively on a wide range of dimensions considered desirable for political office, and that this bias should be more pronounced among the highly religious. We show support for these arguments using a survey experiment fielded with YouGov. Atheists and Muslim candidates were perceived more negatively on a large set of traits considered desirable for political office compared to candidates from religious in-groups, and Mormon candidates fall somewhere in between. The Atheist and Muslim candidates were also perceived as less competent on a diverse set of issues.
Promoting a set-oriented way of thinking in a U.S. High School discrete mathematics class: a case study
Authors: Soto Osvaldo , Siy Kris , Harel Guershon
Published: March 2022

In this case study, we investigate one teacher’s implementation of DNR-based combinatorics curriculum in their high school discrete mathematics class. By examining the teacher’s practices in whole-class discussions of two counting problems, we study how they advanced a variety of ways of thinking to support the development of a set-oriented way of thinking about counting. In particular, we find the teacher worked to build shared experience and understanding of mathematical ideas by grounding her teaching in students’ ways of understanding and leveraging students’ intellectual needs. In doing so, the teacher promoted a set-oriented way of thinking through attending to connections between sets of outcomes, counting processes, and formulas in student representations and justifications; elevated solutions employing process pattern generalization; and advanced the beliefs that counting problems can be solved in many ways and entail several types of mathematical activity.
Evaluation of Ylang Ylang essential oil on alcohol induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Tubachi Siddarth Sunil , Rasal V. P. , Ugare Sanjay R. , Khatib Nayeem A. , Ojha Prachi Sanjeev , Patil Vishal S.
Published: March 2022

The present study is aimed to evaluate the effect of ylang ylang essential oil in alcohol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Alcohol was used as an inducing agent and Silymarin as a standard molecule. Body weight was measured at a 3 days interval till the twenty first day and at the end of the study, serum AST, ALT, TP, TC, TG, and TB biomarkers were estimated. Further, the liver tissue was evaluated for antioxidant enzymes namely CAT, LPO, SOD and GSH level. Liver weight and histopathology was accessed at the end. Phytocompounds were shortlisted from literature and curated databases. Probable targets of each compound were identified using the SwissTargetPrediction web server. Probable mechanisms of phytocompounds against Alcohol induced hepatotoxicity were analyzed by the STRING and KEGG pathway database. The network between compounds, targets, and pathways was generated via Cytoscape ver. 3.6.1. Docking was performed by AutoDock vina using PyRx0.8v. YYEO group showed increased BW compared to alcohol group and also reversed the increased serum AST, ALT, TP, TC, TG, and TB biomarkers and also increased the level of antioxidant enzymes compared to alcohol induced group. YYEO 400 mg/kg exhibited normal liver weight and histology compared to alcohol. Enrichment and network analysis identified YYEO 63 compounds as beneficial modulators of protein molecules associated with hepatotoxicity via modulating Toll-like receptor, Adipocytokine, TNF, Sphingolipid, FoxO, AMPK, Relaxin, MAPK, NF-kappa B, HIF-1, Fc epsilon RI, IL-17, VEGF, T cell receptor, NOD-like receptor, mTOR, PI3K- Akt signaling pathway, etc. Canangaterpene 1 was identified as a potent inhibitor of aldose reductase.

Graphical abstract
Conferencing well
Authors: Regehr Glenn , Varpio Lara
Published: March 2022

None
United Kingdom Patent Decisions 2021
Authors: Trigg Robyn
Published: March 2022

This report highlights a selection of the most important UK patent decisions from 2021, including: one Supreme Court judgment concerning the economic tort of unlawful means, which importantly maintained the status quo for litigating patents in the UK; four Court of Appeal judgments (one concerning sufficiency and functional claiming, which overturned the decision below; two where the first instance finding was upheld; and one considering the crown use exception); and, seven High Court judgments (one giving obiter guidance on the Formstein defence in cases of infringement by equivalents; four relating to applications for expedition of proceedings; and two relating to FRAND and the effect of the ETSI undertaking).
The Role of Metal Nanoparticles in Promoting Photocatalysis by TiO2
Authors: Bowker Michael , O’Rourke Christopher , Mills Andrew
Published: March 2022

In this review, we highlight the role played by metal nanoparticles (NPs) in photocatalytic oxidation with titania as a support. This is presented in two parts, namely, partial photo-oxidation in which an organic sacrificial agent is oxidised in anaerobic conditions to produce hydrogen (photo-reforming), and photo-oxidative mineralisation of organics in aerobic conditions. We present some rules for such reactions that dictate which organic molecules can react readily, and which metals are likely to be useful for such reactions. Generally, the presence of metal NPs enhances enormously the ability of titania to yield hydrogen from photo-reforming, and a wide range of molecules can be used, including biomass. The metal NPs most used are those that are easily reduced, that is, the precious metals. The large enhancement in rate seen with metal for hydrogen production is not so extreme for the oxidation reactions, but is still significant. An important factor in all of this catalysis is the nature of the interaction between the metal NPs, which can play a multiplicity of chemical and electronic roles, and the photoactive support. A sharp dependency of rate on loading of metal is found, with maximum rates at ~0.5–2 wt% loading, depending on the metal used. The source of this dependency is the bifunctional nature of the system, in which the intimacy of both materials is crucial to performance. This rate variation is linked to the interface between the two, which is then linked to the size of the metal NPs. In fact, the rate is proportional to an area adjacent to the metal particles that we call the expanding photocatalytic area and overlap (EPAO) kinetic model. This model describes the dependence well. Rising rates with increasing coverage of particles is associated with increase in this total area but, at the maximum, these areas overlap and at higher loadings the available active area diminishes, reproducing the observed behaviour well.
Evolutionary profile of pyonephrosis after surgical treatment, about 23 cases
Authors: Kbirou Adil , Elafifi Mahmoud , Moataz Amine , Dakir Mohamed , Debbagh Adil , Aboutaieb Rachid
Published: March 2022

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

To describe the evolving profile of pyonephrosis after surgical treatment, identifying their epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and therapeutic aspects.

Materials and methods:

Descriptive retrospective study spread over a period of 5 years (2015–2019) including patients with pyonephrosis in the urology department.

Results:

23 cases of pyonephrosis were collected. The average age of patients was 49 years (27–71 years), with male predominance (69.56%). It was found that the main element of the patient's medical history was urolithiasis (57%). Lower back pain is the main sign found in (96%) of cases, followed by infectious agents found in (42%) and a large kidney (21%). Renal ultrasound allowed us to evoke the diagnosis in 41% of cases and urine CT scan confirmed diagnosis in the majority of cases. The etiology was lithiasis in 78.26% of cases. Cytobacteriological urine examination (CEBU) isolated germs in 15 patients (65.21%) predominance of Escherichia coli in 7 cases (30.43%). The treatment included a nephrectomy preceded by a Subcutaneous nephrovesical bypass in 21 patients. The outcome was reassuring in 70.7% of cases, the main complications were parietal suppuration (30.43%), followed by chronic kidney failure (8.69%), enteroenteric fistula (4.34%), and digestive fistula (4.34%). The mortality was (8.69%).

Conclusion:

Pyonephrosis is a condition that is becoming increasingly rare. The reduction of its incidence may be related to recent advances in medical imaging which allow early diagnosis of causative conditions and their treatment.

Highlights
Unmaking Sex
Authors: Linton Anne E.
Published: March 2022

During the nineteenth century, words like 'intersex' and 'trans' had not yet been invented to describe individuals whose bodies, or senses of self, conflicted with binary sex. But that does not mean that such people did not exist. In nineteenth-century France, case studies filled medical journals, high-profile trials captured headlines, and doctors staked their reputations on sex determinations only to have them later reversed by colleagues. While medical experts fought over what separated a man from a woman, novelists began to explore debates about binary sex and describe the experiences of gender-ambiguous characters. Anne Linton discusses over 200 newly-uncovered case studies while offering fresh readings of literature by several famous writers of the period, as well as long-overlooked popular fiction. This landmark contribution to the history of sexuality is the first book to examine intersex in both medicine and literature, sensitively relating historical 'hermaphrodism' to contemporary intersex activism and scholarship.
A practical design approach for a single-stage sounding rocket to reach a target altitude
Authors: Huh J. , Kwon S.
Published: March 2022

A new type of design domain for a sounding rocket is suggested in this study, which is more intuitive, simplified, and conducive to a single-stage sounding rocket development process. Among the various operation parameters, this study identifies several effective variables, which are also among the most practical in a sounding rocket design process. Of the many design variables considered for peak altitude optimisation, arguably the three most effective in shaping the whole system and conferring the most practicality in the design process of a sounding rocket were determined. A simulation-based study was conducted to establish: the effect of the selected parameters on flight performance, and the optimum design conditions of a single-stage sounding rocket in terms of its peak altitude. The simulation result was compared with randomly chosen experimentally tested flight data and validated. With the clear performance curves varying depending on the variables, the combination of the considered design inputs was effective. The new type of design domain and design procedure proposed is expected to constitute a useful reference and deliver practical benefits to the development process for a target-altitude-optimised single-stage sounding rocket.
Remarks by Todd F. Buchwald
Authors: Buchwald Todd F.
Published: March 2022

Thank you, Catherine, for that very generous introduction, and also for everything that you and the Society have done to support the two of us and the other Task Force members in preparing the report on which we have been working. Thanks also to Mark Agrast and to Wes Rist, and also to Sean Murphy, for their consistent and invaluable support; and, of course, thanks especially to the other Task Force members—Saira Mohammed, Alex Whiting, David Bosco, and Sandy Hodgkinson—and to our Project Director, Ben Batros, who has been just fabulous in all the work he has done over more than one year now in developing and producing this report.
Remarks by Cherise Valles
Authors: Valles Cherise
Published: March 2022

The dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO) had long been viewed as the “crown jewel” of the multilateral trading system. In just over twenty-five years, in various proceedings under the dispute settlement understanding (DSU), the WTO dispute settlement system was prolific and thorough. There have been nearly four hundred adopted panel and Appellate Body reports (including compliance panel proceeding under DSU Article 21.5), twenty-five decisions notified under arbitrations on determining the amount of retaliation under DSU Article 22.6, thirty-eight awards to determine the implementation period under DSU Article 21.3(c), and one stand-alone arbitral award under DSU Article 25. This output has attracted attention in other international tribunals, notably the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In the 2007 Pulp Mills case before the ICJ, the WTO was commended as having contributed the most to the development of “best practices” in the evaluation of evidence submitted during the course of dispute settlement proceedings.
Remarks by Sergio Gusmao Suchodolski
Authors: Suchodolski Sergio Gusmao
Published: March 2022

I am grateful to ASIL and the conveners of this panel for inviting me to share some reflections on “International Aid in a Time of Global Crisis.”
International Law Online: How Will the Pandemic Change the Practice of Law?
Authors: Farrell Brian , Ford Stuart , Sorensen Juliet , Schaner Lawrence , Yu Kanglin , Eno Robert , Korzun Vera
Published: March 2022

This panel was convened at 1:45 p.m., Friday, March 26, 2021, by the ASIL-Midwest Interest Group. Through a roundtable discussion, the panel explored the changes that the pandemic has had on the practice and teaching of international law. Professor Brian Farrell and Professor Stuart Ford, Co-Chairs of the Midwest Interest Group, co-moderated the panel discussion and introduced the panelists: Juliet Sorensen of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; Lawrence Schaner of Schaner Dispute Resolution LLC; Kanglin Yu of the University of Iowa College of Law; Dr. Robert Eno, Registrar of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights; and Vera Korzun of the University of Akron School of Law.
The Road Ahead and Beyond: Future Challenges and Opportunities in the Legal Profession
Authors: Yang Suhong , Beham Markus , Duarte Mauricio , Duggal Kabir , Navarro Chandri
Published: March 2022

This panel touched upon the challenges that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic brought to the international legal profession and explored opportunities for new professionals. The focus lay on practical suggestions for topics to look out for in the near future.
Views from New York
Authors: Mathias Stephen
Published: March 2022

This contribution will provide some brief observations about the manner in which the main intergovernmental bodies of the UN have functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Views from Vienna
Authors: Johnson Peri Lynne
Published: March 2022

This presentation gives a brief overview of how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, or Agency) has fulfilled its mandated activities during the pandemic, considering: (1) host country relations; (2) meetings of IAEA policy making organs; (3) other meetings under the auspices of the Agency; and (4) IAEA nuclear verification work, for which the Agency is most well-known.
Views from Geneva
Authors: Robson Verity
Published: March 2022

Seen from here on the factory floors of the many international organizations based in Geneva, lockdown has had significant consequences in both the governance meetings and negotiations in which states engage, most notably in respect of the politics that influence our lawmaking, the participation in our meetings and negotiations, and the personal relationships between diplomats, which are essential to successful multilateralism.
At Home and Abroad: The European Union in a Changing Global Order
Authors: Wouters Jan
Published: March 2022

The European Union (EU or Union) has the ambition to be an important actor in the global order. Pursuant to Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), it is set to “work for a high degree of cooperation in all fields of international relations” and “promote an international system based on stronger multilateral cooperation and good global governance.” More specifically, as TEU Article 3(5) stipulates, “[i]n its relations with the wider world,” the EU is tasked to “contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
Introductory Remarks by Gian Luca Burci
Authors: Burci Gian Luca
Published: March 2022

Hello. Good morning. Good afternoon. Good evening. My name is Gian Luca Burci. I am an adjunct professor of international law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and in my former professional life, a lawyer in the United Nations system for almost thirty years, including ten years as legal counsel for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Introductory Remarks by Oona Hathaway
Authors: Hathaway Oona
Published: March 2022

Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Annual Meeting for the American Society of International Law. Our panel today is on “Accomplice Accountability for Grave Violations of International Law.” We have an amazing group with us to talk about these issues.
Remarks by Guy S. Goodwin-Gill
Authors: Goodwin-Gill Guy S.
Published: March 2022

Professor Goodwin-Gill recalled that there are in fact at least three anniversaries this year—seventy years in the case of the Refugee Convention and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and one hundred years since Fridtjof Nansen was appointed as the League's first High Commissioner for Refugees.
Octocorals (Alcyonacea and Pennatulacea) from Paleogene deep-water strata in western Washington State, USA
Authors: Goedert James L. , Guthrie Lloyd S. , Kiel Steffen
Published: March 2022

The fossil record of octocorals from Cenozoic marine strata of western North America is quite limited, and they have not been reported previously from rocks in Washington State, USA. Two late Oligocene specimens from the upper part of the Lincoln Creek Formation in western Washington, referred to Radicipes? sp., are the first fossil record of the family Chrysogorgiidae. The family Isididae is represented by an internode and two holdfasts identified as Isidella sp. collected from the Oligocene Pysht Formation, along with specimens questionably identified as Lepidisis sp., possibly the first fossil record for this genus. Together, these are the first confirmed fossils of the Alcyonacea from north of California in western North America. The axes of sea pens from several late Eocene or early Oligocene localities in the Lincoln Creek Formation in the central part of western Washington, and the Pysht and Makah formations on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula, are the first fossil record for the Pennatulacea from western North America; all are tentatively referred to the genus ‘Graphularia’. Large axes from the Lincoln Creek Formation and Makah Formation are referred to ‘Graphularia’ (?) aff. sasai, because they are similar to the species known only from late Eocene and early Oligocene rocks in Japan.
A quantitative analysis of the relationship between affective state and personality ratings in inpatient depression (RAPID)
Authors: Jayakody Kaushadh , Gallagher Peter , Lloyd Adrian J. , Cousins David Andrew
Published: March 2022

Background

The relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and personality disorders is complex, with implications for diagnosis and treatment. We sought to explore the relationship between these disorders quantitatively in an inpatient setting.

Methods

We conducted a structured observational study exploring symptoms of depression and selected neurocognitive functions over the span of an inpatient admission in those with depression and personality disorders. Sixty inpatients presenting with symptoms of depression completed ratings of mood and neurocognitive function. Diagnosis was confirmed by structured clinical interview (SCID-5-RV) at discharge and used to allocate patients to one of the two groups for analysis: those with MDD-only and those with a personality disorder (with or without MDD).

Results

On admission, observer-based ratings of depression were significantly higher in the MDD-only group while subjective ratings were higher in the personality disorder group. Depression rating scores lessened in both groups during the admission, but at discharge, the personality disorder group continued to report higher subjective ratings. The personality disorder group also rated themselves as more cognitively impaired than the MDD-only group and unlike the MDD-only group, they did not report subjective improvements in cognitive function over the course of admission. Objective assessment of cognitive function demonstrated improvements in both groups.

Conclusions

In this study, the presence of a personality disorder was associated with greater subjective severity of depressive symptomatology and selected neurocognitive functioning, despite similar or lower objective severity in comparison with those with MDD. This finding has implications for understanding the patient journey through health care settings.
Simulated nonlinear genetic and environmental dynamics of complex traits
Authors: Hunter Michael D. , McKee Kevin L. , Turkheimer Eric
Published: March 2022

Genetic studies of complex traits often show disparities in estimated heritability depending on the method used, whether by genomic associations or twin and family studies. We present a simulation of individual genomes with dynamic environmental conditions to consider how linear and nonlinear effects, gene-by-environment interactions, and gene-by-environment correlations may work together to govern the long-term development of complex traits and affect estimates of heritability from common methods. Our simulation studies demonstrate that the genetic effects estimated by genome wide association studies in unrelated individuals are inadequate to characterize gene-by-environment interaction, while including related individuals in genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA) allows gene-by-environment interactions to be recovered in the heritability. These theoretical findings provide an explanation for the “missing heritability” problem and bridge the conceptual gap between the most common findings of GCTA and twin studies. Future studies may use the simulation model to test hypotheses about phenotypic complexity either in an exploratory way or by replicating well-established observations of specific phenotypes.
‘Look out! Get back!’ Horse-drawn traffic and its challenges in Belgian cities in the early modern period
Authors: Riguelle William
Published: March 2022

The horses transporting men and merchandise were key actors in urban development at the very time they placed the city's ability to organize and adapt in doubt. Cities of the southernmost Netherlands and the Principality of Liège were forced to cope with the constant challenge represented by traffic in poorly designed arteries, with a morphology inherited from the medieval period and completely ill-suited to the movement of carriages and wagons. The problem posed by traffic in Belgian cities reached a critical threshold in the seventeenth century, a period in which we observe an increase in the number of horses and harnessed teams. The complications caused by this growing surge culminated in the next century and were marked by the formation of a police force obliged to face the challenge traffic represented. Consequently, numerous urban decisions were taken, transforming both the street's ‘lifestyle’ and physiognomy.
Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung im Kontext von Personalbemessung in der Pflege
Authors: Wirth Lena Marie , Ruppert Nicole , Büscher Andreas , Hülsken-Giesler Manfred
Published: March 2022

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die zunehmende Arbeitsbelastung hat einen Anstieg der psychischen und physischen Belastungen von beruflich Pflegenden zur Folge. Um diesem Umstand vorzubeugen, sollten Möglichkeiten der Berücksichtigung von Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung in Personalbemessungsverfahren im pflegerischen Kontext überprüft werden. Fragestellung / Ziel: Inwieweit und in welcher Form können Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung in bestehende Personalbemessungsverfahren integriert werden? Methode: Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage wurde ein Scoping Review durchgeführt. Die Literaturrecherche fand in einschlägigen Fachdatenbanken statt. Eingeschlossen wurden englisch- und deutschsprachige Artikel, veröffentlicht zwischen Januar 2015 und April 2020 mit dem Fokus auf (Pflege-)Organisationen, Personalbemessung, Arbeitsschutz und/oder Gesundheitsförderung sowie personenbezogene Dienstleistungen. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 15 Artikel identifiziert. Die Hauptthemen darin waren: Staffing-Methoden (im Sinne von Personalbesetzung), Führung und Steuerung sowie Arbeitsorganisation und -gestaltung. Hinweise auf eine Einbindung von Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung in Personalbemessungsverfahren wurden nicht gefunden. Jedoch besteht die Forderung nach Berücksichtigung von Aspekten, die über rein berechenbare Faktoren hinausgehen (Beyond Numbers). Schlussfolgerungen: Bei der Weiterentwicklung von Personalbemessungsverfahren sollten Arbeitsschutz und Gesundheitsförderung aufgenommen und stärker beforscht werden. Eine Engführung auf quantifizierbare Werte sollte vermieden werden.
Validation of the Behavioral Health Screen-Depression With	Adolescents in Residential Care
Authors: Ruan-Iu Linda , Chod Douglas , Weissinger Guy , VanFossen Catherine , Saionz Rebecca , Tien Allen , Diamond Guy S.
Published: March 2022

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Behavioral Health Screen Depression Subscale (BHS-DS), including internal consistency, factor structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and (2) identify cut-off scores on the BHS-DS to distinguish patients with depression risk and their level of severity among an acute clinical sample of adolescents in residential psychiatric care. Participants included 861 youths ages 10–24 at residential treatment centers who completed a battery of measures, including the BHS-DS and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Factor analysis, bivariate correlation, and Cronbach’s α suggested the BHS-DS is a unidimensional scale with evidence of internal consistency reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified four clinical cut-off scores (no, mild, moderate, and severe depression risk). Analysis of variance, Cohen’s kappa (κ), and Wilcoxon signed-rank test results suggested the four groups differ from each other and that the BHS-DS exhibits moderate agreement with the PHQ-9. The BHS-DS demonstrates good psychometric properties among a sample of residential youth, offering clinicians a good alternative to the PHQ-9 in screening for depression.
Long‐Term and Fine‐Scale Surface Urban Heat Island Dynamics Revealed by Landsat Data Since the 1980s: A Comparison of Four Megacities in China
Authors: Li Long , Zhan Wenfeng , Du Huilin , Lai Jiameng , Wang Chenguang , Fu Huyan , Huang Fan , Liu Zihan , Wang Chunli , Li Jiufeng , Jiang Lu , Miao Shiqi
Published: March 2022

Long‐term and fine‐scale monitoring of surface urban heat island (SUHI) is critical for the design of heat mitigation strategies. Landsat series offer long‐term (since the 1980s) and fine‐scale land surface temperature (LST) observations for such SUHI analysis. However, Landsat data are characterized by a long revisit period (16 days) and are seriously impacted by cloud contamination and stripe gaps, making the Landsat‐derived long‐term SUHI trends across cities incomparable. To address this issue, here we applied the Prophet model to reconstruct temporally consistent long‐term (∼1985–2019) clear‐sky Landsat LSTs over four megacities in China (Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen). The results show that the mean absolute error of the SUHI intensity (SUHII) estimated using the reconstructed LSTs ranges from 0.2 to 0.6°C. The reliability of the reconstructed LSTs is further evidenced by the general consistency between the reconstructed Landsat and original Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer LSTs. Our analysis further demonstrates that the overall SUHII has been increasing slowly over Beijing but has been increasing rapidly in the other three megacities since the 1980s. Local SUHII trends also varied between urban regions. Urban core is characterized by an initial increase and then a slight decrease in the local SUHII, while a continuously increasing trend is observed for the urban fringe. For the new urban development, the interannual SUHII trend lies somewhere between these trends. Overall, our study provides a practical approach to reconstruct long‐term clear‐sky Landsat LSTs, and delivers a better understanding of long‐term and fine‐scale SUHI variations across cities.
Weighing the Benefits of Urban Greening
Authors: Pardikar Rishika
Published: March 2022

City communities may need to consider whether water absorption or cooling benefits are more important when designing urban greening.
Forest Edges Are More, Not Less, Productive Than Interior Forest
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: March 2022

The boundaries of northeastern U.S. forests suck in more carbon dioxide than previously thought.
α-catenin switches between a slip and an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin to cooperatively regulate cell junction fluidity
Authors: Arbore C. , Sergides M. , Gardini L. , Bianchi G. , Kashchuk A. V. , Pertici I. , Bianco P. , Pavone F. S. , Capitanio M.
Published: March 2022

α-catenin is a crucial protein at cell junctions that provides connection between the actin cytoskeleton and the cell membrane. At adherens junctions (AJs), α-catenin forms heterodimers with β-catenin that are believed to resist force on F-actin. Outside AJs, α-catenin forms homodimers that regulates F-actin organization and directly connect the cell membrane to the actin cytoskeleton, but their mechanosensitive properties are inherently unknown. By using ultra-fast laser tweezers we found that a single α-β-catenin heterodimer does not resist force but instead slips along F-actin in the direction of force. Conversely, the action of 5 to 10 α-β-catenin heterodimers together with force applied toward F-actin pointed end engaged a molecular switch in α-catenin, which unfolded and strongly bound F-actin as a cooperative catch bond. Similarly, an α-catenin homodimer formed an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin triggered by protein unfolding under force. Our data suggest that α-catenin clustering together with intracellular tension engage a fluid-to-solid phase transition at the membrane-cytoskeleton interface.
Spatiotemporal modulations in heterotypic condensates of prion and α-synuclein control phase transitions and amyloid conversion
Authors: Agarwal Aishwarya , Arora Lisha , Rai Sandeep K. , Avni Anamika , Mukhopadhyay Samrat
Published: March 2022

Biomolecular condensation via liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids is associated with a range of critical cellular functions and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate that complex coacervation of the prion protein and α-synuclein within narrow stoichiometry results in the formation of highly dynamic, reversible, thermo-responsive liquid droplets via domain-specific electrostatic interactions between the positively-charged intrinsically disordered N-terminal segment of prion and the acidic C-terminal tail of α-synuclein. The addition of RNA to these coacervates yields multiphasic, vesicle-like, hollow condensates. Picosecond time-resolved measurements revealed the presence of transient electrostatic nanoclusters that are stable on the nanosecond timescale and can undergo breaking-and-making of interactions on slower timescales giving rise to a liquid-like behavior in the mesoscopic regime. The liquid-to-solid transition drives a rapid conversion of complex coacervates into heterotypic amyloids. Our results suggest that synergistic prion-α-synuclein interactions within condensates provide mechanistic underpinnings of their physiological role and overlapping neuropathological features.
Interstitial boron-triggered electron-deficient Os aerogels for enhanced pH-universal hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Yinghao , Peng Chun-Kuo , Hu Huimin , Chen San-Yuan , Choi Jin-Ho , Lin Yan-Gu , Lee Jong-Min
Published: March 2022

Developing high-performance electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for sustainable hydrogen production, yet still challenging. Here, we report boron-modulated osmium (B-Os) aerogels with rich defects and ultra-fine diameter as a pH-universal HER electrocatalyst. The catalyst shows the small overpotentials of 12, 19, and 33 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in acidic, alkaline, and neutral electrolytes, respectively, as well as excellent stability, surpassing commercial Pt/C. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy shows that interventional interstitial B atoms can optimize the electron structure of B-Os aerogels and stabilize Os as active sites in an electron-deficient state under realistic working conditions, and simultaneously reveals the HER catalytic mechanisms of B-Os aerogels in pH-universal electrolytes. The density functional theory calculations also indicate introducing B atoms can tailor the electronic structure of Os, resulting in the reduced water dissociation energy and the improved adsorption/desorption behavior of hydrogen, which synergistically accelerate HER.