bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delegation, deregulation, and business power: a comparative analysis of health insurance in Belgium and France
Authors: Benoît Cyril
Published: April 2024

Business power is thought to increase over time when private actors are involved in the provision of public goods and services. This paper argues that this is partially true—and that in certain circumstances, state actors can even swiftly regain control of sectors previously ceded to private interests. When the latter fulfill some public functions on behalf or as delegates of the state, policymakers face ever greater pressures to sustain a relationship flawed by principal-agent problems—allowing business actors to derive appreciable political benefits. However, these conditions do not hold true after deregulation—when state actors retreat from a sector and attempt to direct the newly created market through licensing, norms, and standard setting. We demonstrate that deregulation sets the stage for a more competitive environment, making it harder for private interests to cooperate. This, in turn, can allow policymakers to enhance regulatory capacities and seize opportunities to highlight the shortcomings of private provision. After establishing this argument theoretically, we illustrate its implications through the comparative historical analysis of the health insurance sector in two European countries—Belgium and France. Despite their initial similarities, they experience contrasting developments regarding the welfare state’s dependency on private insurers for the provision of crucial collective goods.
Learning from failure in ‘an Integral Part’ of EU Law: interpretation of international treaties in the CJEU
Authors: Dunbar Rupert
Published: April 2024

The Court of Justice of the European Union has been criticised increasingly for its approach to international law. While much literature focuses on reluctance to apply international law (ie refusing direct effect), this criticism also includes interpretation, arguably a more contentious area. The Court interprets international treaties through either the Vienna Convention or its own teleological method, with the latter increasingly applied. The legitimacy of applying localised methods of interpretation to international treaty law is debated in scholarship. Whether the Court’s case law applying international law is Völkerrechtsfreundlichkeit (friendliness to international law) is the focus of most contributions in this area. This Article seeks to move beyond that debate by demonstrating the Court should in all instances seek to achieve the legal imperatives of certainty and justice. It is explained that justice divides into ‘thin’ and ‘thick’ forms. Whilst ‘thin’ justice is widely accepted and amounts to treating like cases alike, substantive (‘thick’ justice) outcomes are inherently debatable. The Article proves the Court is failing to clearly distinguish cases (‘thin’ justice) and that case law is uncertain. There are also significant questions concerning ‘thick’ justice. The Court has been subject to criticism for substantive outcomes in this area, with the Commission and Council even seeking to limit its role. With case law that is uncertain and appears unjust it is argued that there is failure in this ‘integral part of EU law.’ The Court is now under increased pressure, and it is uncertain how it will respond. There are certainly cautionary lessons to be learned concerning the importance of paying proper attention to justice and certainty for EU law as a whole, and beyond.
Deep Agreements
Authors: Baumtrog Michael D.
Published: April 2024

Recent research has highlighted the character and importance of the study of agreement. This paper, paralleling work on the more familiar concept of deep disagreement, will provide a first articulation of the character and implications of deep agreements, that is, agreements so deep that disagreement cannot overcome them. To do so, I start by outlining the main features of deep disagreement. I then provide a brief characterization of agreement in general to ground the discussion of the unique characteristics of deep agreements and compare them to deep disagreements. After distinguishing the concept from other more familiar ones, I then point to a few of the major social and theoretical issues the existence of deep agreements poses before concluding with some remarks pointing to valuable areas for future research.
Dialectical behaviour therapy: effect of a coordinated implementation approach on programme sustainability
Authors: Joyce M. , Kells M. , Flynn D. , Wall S. , Boylan E. , Dunne L.
Published: April 2024

Sustainability of DBT programmes and the factors which potentially influence this has received little attention from researchers. In this article, we review the literature reporting on sustainability of DBT programmes in outpatient settings. We also seek to advance the limited knowledge on this topic by reporting on the sustainability of DBT programmes delivered by teams that trained via a coordinated implementation approach in Ireland. As part of this perspective piece we conducted a systematic literature search which identified four studies reporting on DBT programme sustainability. All four reported on programmes delivered by teams that had received training as per the DBT Intensive Training Model. The findings of these studies are summarised and we consider the effect on DBT programme sustainability of introducing a coordinated implementation approach in Ireland.
Relaminarization effects in hypersonic flow on a three-dimensional expansion–compression geometry
Authors: Pandey Anshuman , Casper Katya M. , Beresh Steven J.
Published: April 2024

This experimental work explores the flow field around a three-dimensional expansion–compression geometry on a slender cone at Mach 8 using high-frequency pressure sensors, high-frame-rate schlieren, temperature-sensitive paint, shear-stress measurements and oil-flow visualizations. The

$7^\circ$

cone geometry has a hyperbolic slice which acts as an expansion corner and suppresses the disturbances present in the upstream boundary layer. Downstream of the cone-slice corner, high-frequency boundary-layer disturbances attenuate in all cases. Under laminar conditions, second-mode instabilities from the cone diminish and lower-frequency second-mode waves develop on the slice at a frequency commensurate with the increased boundary layer thickness. For fully turbulent cases, the boundary layer over the slice shows evidence of a two-layered nature with a turbulent outer region and a near-wall region with strong attenuation of high-frequency disturbances and reappearance of lower-frequency instability waves. When a downstream compression ramp is added to the slice, the expanded boundary layer shows enhanced susceptibility to separation such that separation is observed at a

$10^{\circ }$

deflection, which is smaller than expected for turbulent conditions. For a

$30^{\circ }$

ramp, boundary-layer separation occurs further upstream where the heat flux contours show a decrease in heating that is characteristic of a transitional separation. These results demonstrate the effect of relaminarization caused by an upstream expansion on a subsequent shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction.
Dynamics and active mixing of a droplet in a Stokes trap
Authors: Roure Gesse , Zinchenko Alexander Z. , Davis Robert H.
Published: April 2024

Particle trapping and manipulation have a wide range of applications in biotechnology and engineering. Recently, a flow-based, particle-trapping device called the Stokes trap was developed for trapping and control of small particles in the intersection of multiple branches in a microfluidic channel. This device can also be used to perform rheological experiments to determine the viscoelastic response of an emulsion or suspension. We show that besides these applications, the various flow modes produced by the Stokes trap are able to manipulate drop shapes and induce active mixing inside droplets. To this end, we analyse the dynamics of a droplet in a Stokes trap through boundary-integral simulations. We also explore the dynamic response of drop shape with respect to distinct external flow modes, which allows us to perform numerical experiments such as step strain and oscillatory extension. A linear controller is used to manipulate drop position, and the drop deformation is characterized by a spherical-harmonic decomposition. For small drop deformations, we observe a linear superposition of harmonics, which, surprisingly, seems to hold even for moderate deformations. This result indicates that such a device can be used for shape control of droplets. We also investigate how the different flow modes may be combined to induce mixing inside the droplets. The transient combination of modes produces an effective chaotic mixing, which is characterized by a mixing number. The mixing inside the droplet can be further enhanced for lower viscosity ratios and low, but non-zero capillary number and flow frequencies.
Bamboozled by Bonferroni
Authors: Mayo-Wilson Conor
Published: April 2024

When many statistical hypotheses are evaluated simultaneously, statisticians often recommend adjusting (or “correcting”) standard hypothesis tests. In this article, I (1) distinguish two senses of adjustment, (2) investigate the prudential and epistemic goals that adjustment might achieve, and (3) identify conditions under which a researcher should not adjust for multiplicity in the two senses I identify. I tentatively conclude that the goals of scientists and the public may be misaligned with the decision criteria used to evaluate multiple-testing regimes.
Height growth of Mexican boys by geographic region: an evaluation based on nationally representative data of ENSANUT 2012 and 2018
Authors: Flores Luis Alberto , González-Castell Luz Dinorah , Datta Banik Sudip
Published: April 2024

Existing research on human growth in Mexico is regionally focused, creating a gap in the understanding of growth patterns of children and adolescents at national level and regional variation. The objective of the present study was to characterize the height growth curve of the Mexican population by geographic area and to cluster the states of the Mexican Republic according to their somatic maturation characteristics, based on a national representative sample of boys. Data on age, height, socioeconomic level, and geographic area of 18,219 boys were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSANUT) and ENSANUT 2018, carried out in 32 Mexican states. Both surveys had representative samples. Preece–Baines 1 model was applied to fit height growth curves. Biological parameters were estimated; principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to group Mexican states based on these biological parameters. The estimated age at peak height velocity (PHV) was 12.3 years in the sample. Significant regional differences in the timing and tempo of PHV among Mexican boys were observed. Boys in the northern region experienced PHV at an earlier age and had a shorter duration of growth compared with boys in the central and southern regions. Boys in the central region had a longer duration of growth and a later age of PHV compared with the boys in the southern region. The cluster that included the southern states of the country showed estimated lower adult height and earlier somatic maturation. A lower height was found in the low and low-middle socioeconomic levels compared with the medium-high and high socioeconomic levels. Future research in Mexico should focus on longitudinal studies to analyse the timing and tempo of growth and maturation, considering the impacts of environmental and genetic factors. Public health strategies should account for geographic variations.
The unreality of traditional Islamic theism's views on belief, providence, and eschatology: a rejoinder to Tabur
Authors: Aijaz Imran
Published: April 2024

In a previous work, I argue that traditional Islamic theism's understanding of the world, when juxtaposed with key facts of our world's religious diversity, is implausible. On this understanding, roughly, the truth of tawḥīd (Islamic monotheism) is universally evident, as is belief in its truth. Faithful Muslims act appropriately on knowledge of tawḥīd and are rewarded with heaven, whereas non-Muslims culpably refuse to do so and are eternally punished in hell. Such a view of the world, I argue, is not borne out by empirical observation and philosophical reflection. In a recent article, Ayşenur Ünügür Tabur criticizes this argument, presenting a number of objections to it. In this rejoinder, I argue that her objections, which primarily consist of misstatements and irrelevancies, fail to refute my argument. Since traditional Islamic theism's understanding of the world includes the view that some people will be eternally punished in hell, Tabur augments her discussion of my argument by attempting to solve the Problem of Hell. In my rejoinder to Tabur, I further argue that her proffered solution to this problem is woefully inadequate.
On the learning trajectory of directional biases in reading: Evidence from the flankers task
Authors: Cauchi Christophe , Grainger Jonathan , Lété Bernard
Published: April 2024

Prior research with adult participants reported a rightward bias in the reading version of the flankers task. Here, we investigated how this bias evolves as a function of reading expertise. We tested two groups of French primary school children from Cycle 2 (grades 1 and 2) and Cycle 3 (grades 4 and 5) and one group of adult participants. In the related flanker conditions, the central target word was flanked by the same word either on the left (park park ####), the right (#### park park), or on both sides (park park park). In the unrelated conditions, the repeated flanker words were replaced by a different unrelated word. In the analysis of standardized reaction times (RTs), there was a three-way interaction between the three groups of participants and the impact of flanker relatedness as a function of the position of the related flankers. This three-way interaction reflected the significantly greater increase in effects of flanker relatedness between Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 for the bilateral flanker and the right flanker conditions compared with the left flanker condition. This suggests that the rightward bias is driven by attentional asymmetries that develop during the process of learning to read.
Post-Soviet power hierarchies in the making: Postcolonialism in Tajikistan’s relations with Russia
Authors: Kluczewska Karolina
Published: April 2024

This article explores post-Soviet power hierarchies which constitute a unique system of vertical stratification in world politics. It does so by analysing relations between two former Soviet states, Tajikistan and Russia, in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The article investigates the underlying reasons for power asymmetries between the two countries, the ways hierarchies are sustained and enforced, as well as perceived and navigated at political and social levels. It is argued that Tajikistan’s relations with Russia are explicitly postcolonial without clear-cut colonial precedents in Soviet times. Postcolonialism did not automatically result from the Soviet breakdown. Rather, it has gradually emerged because of the two countries’ very different paths of integration into the global capitalist economy, which subordinated Tajikistan to Russia. In this way, new economic asymmetries exacerbated Soviet-era legacies and reinvented them in a new, hierarchical manner. Overall, the article contributes to the debate on the nature of post-Soviet legacies and what it means to be post-Soviet.
Resilience as a ‘concept at work’ in the war in Ukraine: Exploring its international and domestic significance
Authors: Clark Janine Natalya
Published: April 2024

In the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is striking that there have been many references to resilience, including by Western and Ukrainian leaders. This article is precisely about their use of resilience discourse, and it makes two important contributions to existing scholarship on resilience in conflict settings. First, drawing on Ish-Shalom’s idea of ‘concepts at work’ and analysing a selection of speeches and policy statements (by Western leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky) that specifically refer to resilience, it demonstrates that resilience is a significant ‘concept at work’ in the war, making certain forms of international and domestic politics possible. Second, while research on resilience frequently discusses different ways that the concept has been defined and approached in fields such as engineering, ecology, and psychology, this article highlights that diverse framings of resilience have become entangled as the concept is ‘at work’ in the war in Ukraine. More specifically, its analysis makes prominent the fusion of different resiliences at different levels – from the individual to the systemic – discursively working together for particular political ends. In this way, it offers a novel way of thinking multi-systemically about resilience and, by extension, about resilience and complexity.
The effects of distributed practice on second language fluency development
Authors: Kakitani Joe , Kormos Judit
Published: April 2024

This study examined the effects of distributed practice on second language (L2) speech fluency development. A total of 116 Japanese L2 learners of English were randomly divided into experimental or control conditions. Learners assigned to the experimental groups engaged in four fluency training sessions either in a short-spaced (1-day interval) or long-spaced (7-day interval) condition. Although different learning trajectories were observed during the training phase, the posttests conducted 7 and 28 days after the training showed similar fluency gains for the two groups, indicating that short- and long-spaced conditions were equally effective for developing L2 fluency. The current study extends the line of research in distributed practice and task repetition for L2 fluency development.
‘Everything In Its Right Place’—Selective Depositions in Bronze Age Southwest Sweden
Authors: Skoglund Peter , Nimura Courtney , Horn Christian
Published: April 2024

Hoards have played a significant role in our narratives of the European Bronze Age, but their purpose and meaning have been the source of much debate. These debates have been positively impacted by studies that investigate the ways in which hoards are connected to specific landscape contexts. In this paper, we discuss the outcome of one such in-depth field study of 62 Bronze Age metalwork deposition locations from the Swedish province of Halland. By systematically analysing digital sources such as museum archives, church records and historical maps, we were able to establish the locations of a number of previously unlocated finds, which were then visited in the field. Through this combined archival work and fieldwork, we distinguished several patterns that allude to a connection between metalwork deposits, object types and specific places in the landscape. These patterns shed light on the landscape context of hoards in this region and illuminate how deposition patterns changed over time; we consider some factors that may help to explain these changes. The results emphasize the importance of landscape studies for understanding the role of selective deposition in European Bronze Age societies, and more broadly, the social implications of hoards in their context.
Can alpine species take the heat? Impacts of increased temperatures on early life stages
Authors: Seglias Alexandra E. , DePrenger-Levin Michelle
Published: April 2024

Alpine plant species are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Temperature fluctuations are projected to be most severe at high elevations. Even small shifts in temperature have major consequences on phenology, reproduction, and community composition. Early life stages are arguably the most important processes in the fitness of an individual plant and the dynamics and persistence of plant populations. These initial developmental stages are expected to be more vulnerable to changes in climate than adult life stages. To understand how early life stages of alpine plant species will respond to warming temperatures, seeds and seedlings of two species were exposed to three different temperature regimes. Temperatures were based on current and projected conditions under low and high emission scenarios. Two rare alpine species performed better under warmer temperatures at both the germination and seedling stages. The results show that early life stages of alpine plants may not be at high risk from warming temperatures; however, there are many other shifting climatic factors to consider, resulting from climate change beyond temperature alone.
The potential for current sodium and potassium production to support a global switch to the use of potassium-enriched salt: a desktop research study
Authors: Bullen James David , Kissock Katrina Rashelle , Yin Xuejun , Mkambula Penjani , Trieu Kathy , Hastings Bradley , Neal Bruce , Paige Ellie
Published: April 2024

Objective:

Switching regular salt (sodium chloride) to salt enriched with potassium chloride (25 % potassium chloride, 75 % sodium chloride) has been shown to reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. We sought to define the potential for the current production of sodium chloride and potassium chloride to support a global switch to the use of potassium-enriched salt.

Design:

We summarised data from geological surveys, government reports and trade organisations describing the global production and supply of sodium chloride and potash (the primary source of potassium chloride) and compared this to potential requirements for potassium-enriched salt.

Setting:

Global.

Participants:

Not applicable.

Results:

Approximately 280 million tonnes of sodium chloride were produced in 2020 with China and the USA the main producers. Global production of potash from which potassium chloride is extracted was about forty-four million tonnes with Canada, Belarus, Russia and China providing 77 % of the world’s supply. There were forty-eight countries in which potassium-enriched salt is currently marketed with seventy-nine different brands identified. Allowing for loss of salt between manufacture and consumption, a full global switch from regular salt to potassium-enriched salt would require about 9·7 million tonnes of sodium chloride to be replaced with 9·7 million tonnes of potassium chloride annually.

Conclusions:

Significant upscaling of the production of potassium chloride and the capacity of companies able to manufacture potassium-enriched salt, as well as a robust business case for the switch to potassium chloride, would be required.
Voting with Their Guns: An Integrated Framework of How Police Politically Administer Violence
Authors: Flom Hernán
Published: April 2024

Most analyses of the intersection of police, politics, and violence—which center on the police’s use of force as a means to control subordinate classes, repress political dissidents, or confront non-state armed actors—conceptualize the police as an instrument of political incumbents. In this paper, I problematize the relationship between the police and its political principals by focusing on how police administer violence as a political response in compliance or defiance of political incumbents. While elected officials may enact policy changes that restrain or incite police violence, police forces can either abide with or disregard these directives. Building on this interaction of policy shifts and police responses, I develop a typology of four variants of police administration of violence: peacekeeping, punishing, shirking, and sabotaging. I illustrate this typology with various examples from developed and developing democracies.
Phenomewide Association Study of Health Outcomes Associated With the Genetic Correlates of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Vitamin D Binding Protein Concentration
Authors: Kresge Hailey A. , Blostein Freida , Goleva Slavina , Albiñana Clara , Revez Joana A. , Wray Naomi R. , Vilhjálmsson Bjarni J. , Zhu Zhihong , McGrath John J. , Davis Lea K.
Published: April 2024

While it is known that vitamin D deficiency is associated with adverse bone outcomes, it remains unclear whether low vitamin D status may increase the risk of a wider range of health outcomes. We had the opportunity to explore the association between common genetic variants associated with both 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and the vitamin D binding protein (DBP, encoded by the GC gene) with a comprehensive range of health disorders and laboratory tests in a large academic medical center. We used summary statistics for 25OHD and DBP to generate polygenic scores (PGS) for 66,482 participants with primarily European ancestry and 13,285 participants with primarily African ancestry from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Biobank (BioVU). We examined the predictive properties of PGS25OHD, and two scores related to DBP concentration with respect to 1322 health-related phenotypes and 315 laboratory-measured phenotypes from electronic health records. In those with European ancestry: (a) the PGS25OHD and PGSDBP scores, and individual SNPs rs4588 and rs7041 were associated with both 25OHD concentration and 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations; (b) higher PGS25OHD was associated with decreased concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol, and reduced risks of vitamin D deficiency, disorders of lipid metabolism, and diabetes. In general, the findings for the African ancestry group were consistent with findings from the European ancestry analyses. Our study confirms the utility of PGS and two key variants within the GC gene (rs4588 and rs7041) to predict the risk of vitamin D deficiency in clinical settings and highlights the shared biology between vitamin D-related genetic pathways a range of health outcomes.
Public Health Communication Reduces COVID-19 Misinformation Sharing and Boosts Self-Efficacy
Authors: Rasmussen Jesper , Lindekilde Lasse , Petersen Michael Bang
Published: April 2024

During health crises, misinformation may spread rapidly on social media, leading to hesitancy towards health authorities. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted significant research on how communication from health authorities can effectively facilitate compliance with health-related behavioral advice such as distancing and vaccination. Far fewer studies have assessed whether and how public health communication can help citizens avoid the harmful consequences of exposure to COVID-19 misinformation, including passing it on to others. In two experiments in Denmark during the pandemic, the effectiveness of a 3-minute and a 15-second intervention from the Danish Health Authorities on social media was assessed, along with an accuracy nudge. The findings showed that the 3-minute intervention providing competences through concrete and actionable advice decreased sharing of COVID-19-related misinformation and boosted their sense of self-efficacy. These findings suggest that authorities can effectively invest in building citizens’ competences in order to mitigate the spread of misinformation on social media.
Influenza vaccination coverage and determinants of vaccination in	peripheral arterial disease patients
Authors: Chastaingt Lucie , Toba Marie Laure , Boulon Carine , Dari Loubna , Constans Joel , Daoud Hela , Chauvet Romain , Adou Caroline , Magne Julien , Lacroix Philippe
Published: April 2024

Summary: Background: In the latest American Heart Association guidelines, influenza vaccination is recommended for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The vaccination coverage in this specific population is currently unknown. This study aims to determine the adherence to influenza vaccination in a PAD population and identify associated determinants. Patients and methods. Hospitalized patients and outpatients with PAD from two university departments of vascular medicine were prospectively included. A questionnaire was administered to collect sociodemographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, influenza vaccination status, history of cardiovascular disease, and perception and knowledge about vaccination. Logistic regression was conducted to assess vaccination determinants. Results: Over a six-month period, 494 patients were included (median age 69.5, IQR [63–77], 78% male). Overall, 60.1% were either vaccinated or intended to be (Group 1). Vaccination was associated with age (odds-ratio [OR]=1.055, 95% confidence intervals [95%CI]: 1.035–1.075, p<0.0001), abdominal aorta aneurysm (OR=0.390, 95%CI: 0.229–0.664, p=0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR=0.545, 95%CI: 0.367–0.810, p=0.003), chronic renal disease (OR=0.630, 95%CI: 0.400–0.993, p=0.046), and valvulopathy (OR=2.444, 95%CI: 1.122–5.326, p=0.025). Only 25.3% received vaccination information mainly from their general practitioners. Among patients against vaccination, 59.9% considered themselves not concerned about potential influenza consequences on their PAD, and 37.6% did not intend to change their decision. Conclusions: This study highlights the low adherence to influenza vaccination in the PAD population of 2 university hospital centers. Vaccination is often related to age, and there is a need for adapted information regarding influenza consequences on cardiovascular disease overall, particularly on PAD. Addressing common information and advice about vaccination will be a challenge.
Seismic Signature of the Super Cyclone Amphan in Bay of Bengal Using Coastal Observatories Operating Under National Seismological Network of India
Authors: Singh A. P. , Mishra O. P. , Pandey Ajeet P. , Bhatla Rajeev
Published: April 2024

We examined the seismic noise data collected from coastal and inland observatories in India, affected by the super cyclonic storm Amphan in the Indian Ocean, to understand the storm dynamics. Prominent disturbances in the 0.05–0.50 Hz frequency range were observed at the seismic stations, arising due to ocean‐continent interactions. The coastal stations displayed more pronounced ground motions contrary to the inland stations, with spindle‐shaped seismic wave envelopes intensifying as Amphan approached. The maximum ground displacements and energy occurred hours after the cyclone's eye, with maximum wind speed, moved away from the stations and not when it was close to the station. We observed significant variations in primary (0.05–0.10 Hz) and secondary microseism (0.10–0.50 Hz) energy during Amphan's directional changes. Secondary microseisms in short and long periods were found at 0.20–0.50 Hz and 0.10–0.20 Hz, respectively. Primary microseisms exhibited a simple pattern and were the weakest among the three energy bands. The CAL seismic station's seismic wave envelope showed an en‐echelon feature with increasing amplitude as Amphan approached, indicating the influence of ocean resonance and coastal wave reflection. This study demonstrates monitoring of the tropical cyclone paths based on seismic signatures obtained using microseisms recorded at seismic stations, a cost‐effective tool. Integrating these seismic signals with atmospheric observations in near real‐time would probably enable an effective monitoring of cyclones and timely issuance of their alerts.
Distribution and Growth Drivers of Oases at a Global Scale
Authors: Cui Bochao , Gui Dongwei , Liu Qi , Abd‐Elmabod Sameh Kotb , Liu Yunfei , Lu Binbin
Published: April 2024

The human‐environmental system in drylands is centered on oases. Despite its extent and socio‐ecological importance, understanding the dynamic changes of global oases and their human and environmental driving forces is imperative for sustainable development in drylands under global warming. Nevertheless, the dynamic changes of global oases and how they respond to the evolving environment are not well established. In this study, three criteria were summarized (i.e., existing in dryland climates, surrounded or partially surrounded by desert terrain, having a reliable source of freshwater and forming landscape units with higher vegetation coverage/productivity). A global oasis distribution map from 1995 to 2020 was generated using European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative Land Cover and GIMMS‐3G+ data (overall accuracy within a 95% confidence interval is 0.85 ± 0.01) based on overlay analysis and visual interpretation. In addition, we used geographic and temporal weighted regression methods to evaluate the potential macro‐level elements affecting both global and local oasis growth. The result showed that the global oases area in 2020 occupied an area of 191.91 Mha, and most oases existed in Asia (77.3%). The global oases area has significantly increased from 1995 to 2020 (+8.65 Mha). However, about 13.43 Mha of the global oases are desertified, indicating a high risk of desertification. Water resources, contributing 51.36% to the total driver's contribution, are key to the global oasis expansion. In the context of climate (climate variability and climate change), this research highlights the need for improved holistic water resource management for long‐term global oasis growth, particularly in developing countries where the oases' development is threatened by water scarcity and desertification.
Apparent Diachroneity of Calcareous Nannofossil Datums During the Early Eocene in the High‐Latitude South Pacific Ocean
Authors: Niederbockstruck B. , Jones H. L. , Yasukawa K. , Raffi I. , Tanaka E. , Westerhold T. , Ikehara M. , Röhl U.
Published: April 2024

The late Paleocene to early Eocene interval is characterized by a series of carbon perturbations that caused transient warming (hyperthermal) events, of which the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was the largest. These hyperthermals can be recognized in the pelagic sedimentary record as paired negative δ13C and δ18O excursions, in addition to decreased calcium carbonate and increased iron content caused by carbonate dissolution. However, current data are predominantly sourced from the equatorial‐to subequatorial regions. Here we present a new high‐latitude late Paleocene—early Eocene record, recovered during International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 378 on the Campbell Plateau off New Zealand, in the southwest Pacific Ocean. To construct an age model, we correlated our chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data to existing astronomically‐tuned age models from Walvis Ridge (South Atlantic Ocean) and Demerara Rise (equatorial Atlantic Ocean). Our results indicate that the Site U1553 composite section spans ∼7 million years of the latest Paleocene to early Eocene (50.5–57.5 Ma), and preserves many of the early Eocene hyperthermals; including a PETM interval that is more expanded than elsewhere in this region. However, construction of the age model also revealed discrepancies between the chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic tie points used for correlation. This is likely due to latitudinal diachroneity in the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic datums, which are primarily based on low‐to mid‐latitude assemblages. Therefore, our study highlights the need to establish a revised calcareous nannofossil biozonation that is more appropriate for high‐latitude age models.
Tailoring high-refractive-index nanocomposites for manufacturing of ultraviolet metasurfaces
Authors: Kang Hyunjung , Oh Dongkyo , Jeon Nara , Kim Joohoon , Kim Hongyoon , Badloe Trevon , Rho Junsuk
Published: April 2024

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has been utilized to address the manufacturing challenges of high cost and low throughput for optical metasurfaces. To overcome the limitations inherent in conventional imprint resins characterized by a low refractive index (n), high-n nanocomposites have been introduced to directly serve as meta-atoms. However, comprehensive research on these nanocomposites is notably lacking. In this study, we focus on the composition of high-n zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticle (NP) concentration and solvents used to produce ultraviolet (UV) metaholograms and quantify the transfer fidelity by the measured conversion efficiency. The utilization of 80 wt% ZrO2 NPs in MIBK, MEK, and acetone results in conversion efficiencies of 62.3%, 51.4%, and 61.5%, respectively, at a wavelength of 325 nm. The analysis of the solvent composition and NP concentration can further enhance the manufacturing capabilities of high-n nanocomposites in NIL, enabling potential practical use of optical metasurfaces.
Common risk alleles for schizophrenia within the major histocompatibility complex predict white matter microstructure
Authors: Caseras Xavier , Simmonds Emily , Pardiñas Antonio F. , Anney Richard , Legge Sophie E. , Walters James T. R. , Harrison Neil A. , O’Donovan Michael C. , Escott-Price Valentina
Published: April 2024

Recent research has highlighted the role of complement genes in shaping the microstructure of the brain during early development, and in contributing to common allele risk for Schizophrenia. We hypothesised that common risk variants for schizophrenia within complement genes will associate with structural changes in white matter microstructure within tracts innervating the frontal lobe. Results showed that risk alleles within the complement gene set, but also intergenic alleles, significantly predict axonal density in white matter tracts connecting frontal cortex with parietal, temporal and occipital cortices. Specifically, risk alleles within the Major Histocompatibility Complex region in chromosome 6 appeared to drive these associations. No significant associations were found for the orientation dispersion index. These results suggest that changes in axonal packing - but not in axonal coherence - determined by common risk alleles within the MHC genomic region – including variants related to the Complement system - appear as a potential neurobiological mechanism for schizophrenia.
Responses of marine trophic levels to the combined effects of ocean acidification and warming
Authors: Hu Nan , Bourdeau Paul E. , Hollander Johan
Published: April 2024

Marine organisms are simultaneously exposed to anthropogenic stressors associated with ocean acidification and ocean warming, with expected interactive effects. Species from different trophic levels with dissimilar characteristics and evolutionary histories are likely to respond differently. Here, we perform a meta-analysis of controlled experiments including both ocean acidification and ocean warming factors to investigate single and interactive effects of these stressors on marine species. Contrary to expectations, we find that synergistic interactions are less common (16%) than additive (40%) and antagonistic (44%) interactions overall and their proportion decreases with increasing trophic level. Predators are the most tolerant trophic level to both individual and combined effects. For interactive effects, calcifying and non-calcifying species show similar patterns. We also identify climate region-specific patterns, with interactive effects ranging from synergistic in temperate regions to compensatory in subtropical regions, to positive in tropical regions. Our findings improve understanding of how ocean warming, and acidification affect marine trophic levels and highlight the need for deeper consideration of multiple stressors in conservation efforts.
An estrogen receptor α-derived peptide improves glucose homeostasis during obesity
Authors: Yang Wanbao , Jiang Wen , Liao Wang , Yan Hui , Ai Weiqi , Pan Quan , Brashear Wesley A. , Xu Yong , He Ling , Guo Shaodong
Published: April 2024

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a crucial role in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis during type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here we find a ligand-independent effect of ERα on the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Deficiency of ERα in the liver impairs glucose homeostasis in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that ERα promotes hepatic insulin sensitivity by suppressing ubiquitination-induced IRS1 degradation. The ERα 1-280 domain mediates the ligand-independent effect of ERα on insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, we identify a peptide based on ERα 1-280 domain and find that ERα-derived peptide increases IRS1 stability and enhances insulin sensitivity. Importantly, administration of ERα-derived peptide into obese mice significantly improves glucose homeostasis and serum lipid profiles. These findings pave the way for the therapeutic intervention of T2DM by targeting the ligand-independent effect of ERα and indicate that ERα-derived peptide is a potential insulin sensitizer for the treatment of T2DM.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of CARM1 promotes its enzymatic activity and alters its target specificity
Authors: Itonaga Hidehiro , Mookhtiar Adnan K. , Greenblatt Sarah M. , Liu Fan , Martinez Concepcion , Bilbao Daniel , Rains Masai , Hamard Pierre-Jacques , Sun Jun , Umeano Afoma C. , Duffort Stephanie , Chen Chuan , Man Na , Mas Gloria , Tottone Luca , Totiger Tulasigeri , Bradley Terrence , Taylor Justin , Schürer Stephan , Nimer Stephen D.
Published: April 2024

An important epigenetic component of tyrosine kinase signaling is the phosphorylation of histones, and epigenetic readers, writers, and erasers. Phosphorylation of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), have been shown to enhance and impair their enzymatic activity. In this study, we show that the hyperactivation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) by the V617F mutation phosphorylates tyrosine residues (Y149 and Y334) in coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1), an important target in hematologic malignancies, increasing its methyltransferase activity and altering its target specificity. While non-phosphorylatable CARM1 methylates some established substrates (e.g. BAF155 and PABP1), only phospho-CARM1 methylates the RUNX1 transcription factor, on R223 and R319. Furthermore, cells expressing non-phosphorylatable CARM1 have impaired cell-cycle progression and increased apoptosis, compared to cells expressing phosphorylatable, wild-type CARM1, with reduced expression of genes associated with G2/M cell cycle progression and anti-apoptosis. The presence of the JAK2-V617F mutant kinase renders acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells less sensitive to CARM1 inhibition, and we show that the dual targeting of JAK2 and CARM1 is more effective than monotherapy in AML cells expressing phospho-CARM1. Thus, the phosphorylation of CARM1 by hyperactivated JAK2 regulates its methyltransferase activity, helps select its substrates, and is required for the maximal proliferation of malignant myeloid cells.
Dehydroxylative radical N-glycosylation of heterocycles with 1-hydroxycarbohydrates enabled by copper metallaphotoredox catalysis
Authors: Liu Da-Peng , Zhang Xiao-Sen , Liu Shuai , Hu Xiang-Guo
Published: April 2024

N-Glycosylated heterocycles play important roles in biological systems and drug development. The synthesis of these compounds heavily relies on ionic N-glycosylation, which is usually constrained by factors such as labile glycosyl donors, precious metal catalysts, and stringent conditions. Herein, we report a dehydroxylative radical method for synthesizing N-glycosides by leveraging copper metallaphotoredox catalysis, in which stable and readily available 1-hydroxy carbohydrates are activated for direct N-glycosylation. Our method employs inexpensive photo- and copper- catalysts and can tolerate some extent of water. The reaction exhibits a broad substrate scope, encompassing 76 examples, and demonstrates high stereoselectivity, favoring 1,2-trans selectivity for furanoses and α-selectivity for pyranoses. It also exhibits high site-selectivity for substrates containing multiple N-atoms. The synthetic utility is showcased through the late-stage functionalization of bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals like Olaparib, Axitinib, and Metaxalone. Mechanistic studies prove the presence of glycosyl radicals and the importance of copper metallaphotoredox catalysis.
Prediction error processing and sharpening of expected information across the face-processing hierarchy
Authors: Garlichs Annika , Blank Helen
Published: April 2024

The perception and neural processing of sensory information are strongly influenced by prior expectations. The integration of prior and sensory information can manifest through distinct underlying mechanisms: focusing on unexpected input, denoted as prediction error (PE) processing, or amplifying anticipated information via sharpened representation. In this study, we employed computational modeling using deep neural networks combined with representational similarity analyses of fMRI data to investigate these two processes during face perception. Participants were cued to see face images, some generated by morphing two faces, leading to ambiguity in face identity. We show that expected faces were identified faster and perception of ambiguous faces was shifted towards priors. Multivariate analyses uncovered evidence for PE processing across and beyond the face-processing hierarchy from the occipital face area (OFA), via the fusiform face area, to the anterior temporal lobe, and suggest sharpened representations in the OFA. Our findings support the proposition that the brain represents faces grounded in prior expectations.
Polarizability matters in enantio-selection
Authors: Chen Fumin , Chen Yu , Chang Xiao-Yong , He Dongxu , Yang Qingjing , Wang David Zhigang , Xu Chen , Yu Peiyuan , Xing Xiangyou
Published: April 2024

The prevalence of chirality, or, handedness in biological world is a fundamental phenomenon and a characteristic hallmark of life. Thus, understanding the origin of enantio-selection, i.e., the sense and magnitude of asymmetric induction, has been a long-pursued goal in asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we demonstrated a polarizability-derived electronic effect that was shown to be capable of rationalizing a broad range of stereochemical observations made in the field of asymmetric catalysis. This effect provided a consistent enantio-control model for the prediction of major enantiomers formed in a ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenations of ketones. Direct and quantitative linear free energy relationships between substrates’ local polarizabilities and observed enantio-selectivity were also revealed in three widely known asymmetric catalytic systems covering both reductions and oxidations. This broadly applicable polarizability-based electronic effect, in conjunction with conventional wisdom mainly leveraging on steric effect considerations, should aid rational design of enantio-selective processes for better production of chiral substances.
LSD1 drives intestinal epithelial maturation and controls small intestinal immune cell composition independent of microbiota in a murine model
Authors: Díez-Sánchez Alberto , Lindholm Håvard T. , Vornewald Pia M. , Ostrop Jenny , Yao Rouan , Single Andrew B. , Marstad Anne , Parmar Naveen , Shaw Tovah N. , Martín-Alonso Mara , Oudhoff Menno J.
Published: April 2024

Postnatal development of the gastrointestinal tract involves the establishment of the commensal microbiota, the acquisition of immune tolerance via a balanced immune cell composition, and maturation of the intestinal epithelium. While studies have uncovered an interplay between the first two, less is known about the role of the maturing epithelium. Here we show that intestinal-epithelial intrinsic expression of lysine-specific demethylase 1A (LSD1) is necessary for the postnatal maturation of intestinal epithelium and maintenance of this developed state during adulthood. Using microbiota-depleted mice, we find plasma cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and a specific myeloid population to depend on LSD1-controlled epithelial maturation. We propose that LSD1 controls the expression of epithelial-derived chemokines, such as Cxcl16, and that this is a mode of action for this epithelial-immune cell interplay in local ILC2s but not ILC3s. Together, our findings suggest that the maturing epithelium plays a dominant role in regulating the local immune cell composition, thereby contributing to gut homeostasis.