bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroimaging in Breast Implant Illness: An fMRI Pilot Study
Authors: Miseré Renée M L , Rutten Sanne , van den Hurk Job , Colaris Maartje J L , van der Hulst René R W J
Published: August 2022

Background

Some women with breast implants report systemic and cognitive symptoms known as breast implant illness (BII), which are very similar to those of fibromyalgia. Functional MRI (fMRI) has shown altered brain activity in fibromyalgia patients.

Objectives

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether brain alterations could be observed in BII patients by fMRI.

Methods

Women aged 18 to 76 with silicone breast implants for cosmetic reasons were recruited through a Dutch online BII support organization (MKS) and through the Maastricht University Medical Center. Study participants comprised 12 women with BII and 12 women without symptoms. Participants completed questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, medical history, psychosocial complaints (Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire), cognitive failure (Mini–Mental State Examination), and pain intensity and pain-related disability (Chronic Pain Grade Scale). Subsequently, brain images of all participants were obtained by resting-state fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging in a 3-T MRI scanner (Siemens Medical System, Erlangen, Germany).

Results

Eleven BII patients and 12 healthy controls were included in the analysis. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups and the mean silicone exposure was 15 years. Patients scored significantly higher than controls on both pain intensity and disability. Patients scored worse on depression, somatization, distress, and anxiety compared with asymptomatic women. Mini–Mental State Examination scores were normal. However, the analyses of both functional connectivity and structural integrity showed no significant differences between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

This pilot study showed no evidence of brain alterations in BII patients. However, patients scored significantly worse on psychosocial symptoms than controls. Psychological factors appear to play an important role in BII and should be further investigated.

Level of Evidence: 2
Accelerated longitudinal changes and ordering of Alzheimer disease biomarkers across the adult lifespan
Authors: Luo Jingqin , Agboola Folasade , Grant Elizabeth , Morris John C , Masters Colin L , Albert Marilyn S , Johnson Sterling C , McDade Eric M , Fagan Anne M , Benzinger Tammie L S , Hassenstab Jason , Bateman Randall J , Perrin Richard J , Wang Guoqiao , Li Yan , Gordon Brian , Cruchaga Carlos , Day Gregory S , Levin Johannes , Vöglein Jonathan , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Suzuki Kazushi , Allegri Ricardo F , Xiong Chengjie ,   Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN)
Published: August 2022

The temporal evolutions and relative orderings of Alzheimer disease biomarkers, including CSF amyloid-β42 (Aβ42), Aβ40, total tau (Tau) and phosphorylated tau181 (pTau181), standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) from the molecular imaging of cerebral fibrillar amyloid-β with PET using the 11C-Pittsburgh Compound-B (PiB), MRI-based hippocampal volume and cortical thickness and cognition have been hypothesized but not yet fully tested with longitudinal data for all major biomarker modalities among cognitively normal individuals across the adult lifespan starting from 18 years. By leveraging a large harmonized database from 8 biomarker studies with longitudinal data from 2609 participants in cognition, 873 in MRI biomarkers, 519 in PET PiB imaging and 475 in CSF biomarkers for a median follow-up of 5–6 years, we estimated the longitudinal trajectories of all major Alzheimer disease biomarkers as functions of baseline age that spanned from 18 to 103 years, located the baseline age window at which the longitudinal rates of change accelerated and further examined possible modifying effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. We observed that participants 18–45 years at baseline exhibited learning effects on cognition and unexpected directions of change on CSF and PiB biomarkers. The earliest acceleration of longitudinal change occurred for CSF Aβ42 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio (with an increase) and for Tau, and pTau181 (with a decrease) at the next baseline age interval of 45–50 years, followed by an accelerated increase for PiB SUVR at the baseline age of 50–55 years and an accelerated decrease for hippocampal volume at the baseline age of 55–60 years and finally by an accelerated decline for cortical thickness and cognition at the baseline age of 65–70 years. Another acceleration in the rate of change occurred at the baseline age of 65–70 years for Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, Tau, pTau181, PiB SUVR and hippocampal volume. Accelerated declines in hippocampal volume and cognition continued after 70 years. For participants 18–45 years at baseline, significant increases in Aβ42 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and decreases in PiB SUVR occurred in APOE ɛ4 non-carriers but not carriers. After age 45 years, APOE ɛ4 carriers had greater magnitudes than non-carriers in the rates of change for all CSF biomarkers, PiB SUVR and cognition. Our results characterize the temporal evolutions and relative orderings of Alzheimer disease biomarkers across the adult lifespan and the modification effect of APOE ɛ4. These findings may better inform the design of prevention trials on Alzheimer disease.
Cardiovascular effects of incretins: focus on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists
Authors: Madsbad Sten , Holst Jens J
Published: August 2022

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have been used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes since 2005 and have become popular because of the efficacy and durability in relation to glycaemic control in combination with weight loss in most patients. Today in 2022, seven GLP-1 RAs, including oral semaglutide are available for treatment of type 2 diabetes. Since the efficacy in relation to reduction of HbA1c and body weight as well as tolerability and dosing frequency vary between agents, the GLP-1 RAs cannot be considered equal. The short acting lixisenatide showed no cardiovascular benefits, while once daily liraglutide and the weekly agonists, subcutaneous semaglutide, dulaglutide, and efpeglenatide, all lowered the incidence of cardiovascular events. Liraglutide, oral semaglutide and exenatide once weekly also reduced mortality. GLP-1 RAs reduce the progression of diabetic kidney disease. In the 2019 consensus report from European Association for the Study of Diabetes/American Diabetes Association, GLP-1 RAs with demonstrated cardio-renal benefits (liraglutide, semaglutide and dulaglutide) are recommended after metformin to patients with established cardiovascular diseases or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. European Society of Cardiology suggests starting with a sodium-glucose cotransprter-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 RA in drug naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) or high CV Risk. However, the results from cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT) are very heterogeneous suggesting that some GLP-1RAs are more suitable to prevent CVD than others. The CVOTs provide a basis upon which individual treatment decisions for patients with T2D and CVD can be made.
Genic and chromosomal components of Prdm9-driven hybrid male sterility in mice (Mus musculus)
Authors: Valiskova Barbora , Gregorova Sona , Lustyk Diana , Šimeček Petr , Jansa Petr , Forejt Jiří
Published: August 2022

Hybrid sterility contributes to speciation by preventing gene flow between related taxa. Prdm9, the first and only hybrid male sterility gene known in vertebrates, predetermines the sites of recombination between homologous chromosomes and their synapsis in early meiotic prophase. The asymmetric binding of PRDM9 to heterosubspecific homologs of Mus musculus musculus × Mus musculus domesticus F1 hybrids and increase of PRDM9-independent DNA double-strand break hotspots results indificult- to- repair double-strand breaks, incomplete synapsis of homologous chromosomes, and meiotic arrest at the first meiotic prophase. Here, we show that Prdm9 behaves as a major hybrid male sterility gene in mice outside the Mus musculus musculus × Mus musculus domesticus F1 hybrids, in the genomes composed of Mus musculus castaneus and Mus musculus musculus chromosomes segregating on the Mus musculus domesticus background. The Prdm9cst/dom2 (castaneus/domesticus) allelic combination secures meiotic synapsis, testes weight, and sperm count within physiological limits, while the Prdm9msc1/dom2 (musculus/domesticus) males show a range of fertility impairment. Out of 5 quantitative trait loci contributing to the Prdm9msc1/dom2-related infertility, 4 control either meiotic synapsis or fertility phenotypes and 1 controls both, synapsis, and fertility. Whole-genome genotyping of individual chromosomes showed preferential involvement of nonrecombinant musculus chromosomes in asynapsis in accordance with the chromosomal character of hybrid male sterility. Moreover, we show that the overall asynapsis rate can be estimated solely from the genotype of individual males by scoring the effect of nonrecombinant musculus chromosomes. Prdm9-controlled hybrid male sterility represents an example of genetic architecture of hybrid male sterility consisting of genic and chromosomal components.
Serum N-glycomic profiling may provide potential signatures for surveillance of COVID-19
Authors: Xie Yongjing , Butler Michael
Published: August 2022

Disease development and progression are often associated with aberrant glycosylation, indicating that changes in biological fluid glycome may potentially serve as disease signatures. The corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a significant threat to global human health. However, the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the overall serum N-glycomic profile has been largely unexplored. Here, we extended our 96-well-plate-based high-throughput, high-sensitivity N-glycan profiling platform further with the aim of elucidating potential COVID-19-associated serum N-glycomic alterations. Use of this platform revealed both similarities and differences between the serum N-glycomic fingerprints of COVID-19 positive and control cohorts. Although there were no specific glycan peaks exclusively present or absent in COVID-19 positive cohort, this cohort showed significantly higher levels of glycans and variability. On the contrary, the overall N-glycomic profiles for healthy controls were well-contained within a narrow range. From the serum glycomic analysis, we were able to deduce changes in different glycan subclasses sharing certain structural features. Of significance was the hyperbranched and hypersialylated glycans and their derived glycan subclass traits. T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding and hierarchical heatmap clustering analysis were performed to identify 13 serum glycomic variables that potentially distinguished the COVID-19 positive from healthy controls. Such serum N-glycomic changes described herein may indicate or correlate to the changes in serum glycoproteins upon COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, mapping the serum N-glycome following SARS-CoV-2 infection may help us better understand the disease and enable “Long-COVID” surveillance to capture the full spectrum of persistent symptoms.
2. The History of the Practice of Strategy from Antiquity to Napoleon
Authors: Heuser Beatrice
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses the history of the practice of strategy from Antiquity to the First World War. After introducing the reader to the various definitions of strategy, the chapter considers sources of Antiquity about warfare, from ancient Greece and Rome to the time of Rome’s Constantinopolitan (Byzantine) successors, Justinian I and Heraclius. It then examines episodes of European history since Antiquity for which historians claim to have found evidence of the practice of strategy. In particular, it looks at the West European Middle Ages, which saw the rise of complex decision-making involving multiple tools—strategy. It also analyses the transformation of warfare and of strategy in early modern Europe, covering case studies that span the wars involving Philip II of Spain, Louis XIV of France, and Frederick II of Prussia, as well as the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic Wars.
11. Irregular Warfare Terrorism and Insurgency
Authors: Kiras James D.
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines two types of irregular warfare: terrorism and insurgency. It first considers the problematic definitions given to irregular warfare, terrorism, and insurgency before discussing the theory and practice of irregular warfare. In particular, it highlights the role of time, space, legitimacy, and/or support in insurgent and terrorist campaigns. It then analyses counterinsurgency and counterterrorism in theory and practice, focusing on three important elements of successful campaigns against insurgents and terrorists, namely, location, isolation, and eradication. It also explores contemporary and future irregular threats and how they are driven by a combination of culture, religious fanaticism, and technology. Finally, it comments on the role to be played by information technology in irregular wars of the future, which some observers expect to be fought in cyberspace.
13. The Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Authors: Baylis John
Published: August 2022

This chapter explores a variety of questions on how to control the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). It begins with a discussion of the shift that took place during the cold war from disarmament to arms control, as well as the shift in relative importance that occurred in the early post-cold war era from arms control to more forcible means to tackle nuclear proliferation. It then considers the emergence of new ideas, first in the Clinton administration, and then in the Bush administration, that focused less on arms control and more on counterproliferation. It also examines a host of problems and dilemmas associated with counterproliferation, the Obama administration’s policy of engagement and ‘tough but direct diplomacy’, and the challenges presented by new geopolitical tensions. Finally, it reflects on future prospects for strategic nuclear arms control.
15. Humanitarian Intervention and Peace Operations
Authors: Greitens Sheena Chestnut
Published: August 2022

This chapter analyses the dynamics of humanitarian intervention and peace operations. It begins with a discussion of the changing nature of peacekeeping since the cold war and how peacekeeping expanded in the post-cold war period, creating demand, opportunities, and incentives for intervention that resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number and scale of military interventions by United Nations forces. Today, humanitarian interventions are larger, more complex affairs. The chapter goes on to examine how post-cold war operations shaped peacekeeping debates; peacekeeping since 2000; the benefits and challenges of the regionalization of peacekeeping; and evolving norms in contemporary peacekeeping. It also considers the politics of humanitarian intervention, especially at the UN Security Council, and how public opinion of humanitarian intervention is shaped by media coverage and casualties. Finally, it describes the military character of peace operations as well as problems and prospects surrounding humanitarian intervention and peace operations.
16. Cyber Conflict in the Age of Great Power Competition
Authors: Maness Ryan C. , Lorentz Rebecca , Valeriano Brandon
Published: August 2022

This chapter explains the concepts of cyberspace, cyberpower, cyber strategy, cyber security, and cyberwar and illustrates how cyberpower manifests today among both state and non-state actors. Managing information is part of a persistent challenge that is not unique to any time or place. What is different today is the speed of transmission and the reach of information, which are both aided by cyberattacks and cyber-enabled technologies that leverage digital communications. Search engines, video platforms, and encrypted messaging services allow for loaded phrases to return troves of fake stories and narratives reflecting extremist ideologies in the infosphere. The Covid-19 pandemic also brought along what can be dubbed an ‘infodemic’, where disinformation about mitigation and vaccines has yet to bring the crisis to a definitive end. These developments carry transformative national security implications for all societies. Cyber conflict—the use of digital technologies in military interactions or military affairs in the realm of international affairs—is also occurring. Cyber conflict involves direct cyberattacks that are aimed at opponents’ digitally enabled systems.
17. Geopolitics and Grand Strategy
Authors: Ortmann Stefanie , Whittaker Nick
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses the concept of geopolitics and its role in formulating and implementing a grand strategy. It first provides an overview of the relationship between grand strategy and geography, before explaining how the meanings of grand strategy and geopolitics evolved in response to changing world historical contexts. It then considers the reasons why geopolitics and grand strategy are linked to the politics of great powers and why these concepts are currently making a comeback. In particular, it examines the revival of geopolitical thinking after the Second World War and how geopolitical reasoning informed containment as a grand strategy during the cold war. The chapter also takes a look at the pitfalls and problems associated with formulating a grand strategy, especially in today’s complex international environment. Finally, it argues that there is a need to rethink geopolitics with the ultimate goal of balancing ends and means.
19. Strategic Studies
Authors: Acharya Amitav , He Jiajie
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines the limitations and problems of strategic studies with respect to security challenges in the global South. It first considers the ethnocentrism that bedevils strategic studies and international relations before discussing mainstream strategic studies during the cold war. It then looks at whether strategic studies has kept up with the changing pattern of conflict, where the main theatre is the non-Western world, with particular emphasis on the decline in armed conflicts after the end of the cold war, along with the problem of human security and how it has been impacted by technology. The chapter also explores the issue of whether to take into account non-military threats in strategic studies and the debates over strategic culture and grand strategy in China and India. It concludes by proposing Global International Relations as a new approach to strategic studies that seeks to adapt to the strategic challenges and responses of non-Western countries.
4. Conceptualizations of Terrorism
Authors: Richards Anthony
Published: August 2022

This chapter looks into various conceptualizations of terrorism. Most terrorism scholars view terrorism as a distinctive phenomenon when compared with other forms of political violence. Terrorism is most often defined as the use of violence for the purpose of generating a psychological impact beyond the immediate victims or any sort of political motive. However, how to accurately define terrorism has long been the subject of contentious debates both within policy-making and the terrorism studies literature of the past fifty years. The chapter then lists the levels of analysing terrorism. These are: definition, conceptualization, and pejorative labeling. It notes how the psychological impact and terrorism is viewed as fundamental in understanding terrorism.
9. What Are the Root Causes of Terrorism?
Authors: Brooke Nick
Published: August 2022

This chapter explores the accuracy and validity of the root causes of terrorism. Following the wake of recent terrorist acts and campaigns, the public, media, and policymakers seek to understand the reason behind terrorism. The chapter mentions the difficulty of scholars trying to pin down root causes. It looks into controversies related to academic attempts to explain terrorism. Martha Crenshaw identifies preconditions and precipitants as the causes for terrorism. Tore Bjørgo categorizes structural, facilitator, motivational, and triggering causes. The chapter lists the political and structural roots of terrorism ranging around nationalism, religious extremism, education, and poverty. Another method when analysing the root causes of terrorism is to consider terrorism as a response to state behaviour.
19. Is Terrorism Effective?
Authors: Muro Diego
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines the effectiveness of terrorism in delivering tactical returns. It shows how terrorism is largely ineffective in realising strategic goals. Political goals vary and include secession, overthrowing capitalism, and expelling an occupying force. Additionally, the tactical use of terrorism brings cohesion to a group's organization, ideology, goals, and constituencies. There is no consensus among scholars with regards to the political returns of terrorism. This is due to the methodological problems inherent in the controversy. The chapter then explores the advantages and disadvantages of using coercive intimidation to pursue political conclusions. It includes future studies that may be more inclusive, methodical, and productive.
20. Counterterrorism Agencies and Their Work
Authors: Innes Martin , Innes Helen
Published: August 2022

This chapter looks into the work of counterterrorism agencies. It also lists the key roles and responsibilities of military, intelligence, and criminal justice agencies alongside the policy frameworks that shape and structure counterterrorism interventions. The demands of political actors are supplied by counterterrorism strategies. Large-scale, multi-faceted government counterterrorism policies strive to manage the risk, stop support for terrorist motivations, and protect citizens and economic interests. Mapping the changes in the organization of counter-terrorism highlighted how issues of transparency, oversight, and accountability have become increasingly significant. The chapter then examines the ethical and practical dilemmas of counterterrorism that have to be navigated and negotiated.
21. Responding to Terrorism Nonviolently
Authors: Lindahl Sondre , Jackson Richard
Published: August 2022

This chapter explores non-violent responses to terrorism. It notes the main failures and limitations of violent or force-based counterterrorism, before examining alternative non-violent approaches used to reduce the incidence of terrorism and transform violent conflict into political conflict. The most common alternative approach in an effort of conflict resolution and promoting a political settlement is the use of dialogue and negotiations. The chapter also discusses the literature on suggestions and guidance for further developing approaches to non-violent counterterrorism such as non-violent resistance, unarmed peacekeeping, non-warring communities, and social defence. Sondre Lindahl's critical theory of counterterrorism is based on principles such as needing to treat terrorism as a political phenomenon and aiming for more than the elimination of terrorists.
25. Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Technology
Authors: Lehr Peter
Published: August 2022

This chapter looks at the role of technology in the battle against terrorism. Technology was quickly identified as such a potential ‘silver bullet’ following the 9/11 event. This showed that border controls alone are insufficient to prevent terrorist incidents. Technology was able to help with biometrics, data mining, and acquisition to identify terrorists posing as regular citizens. While technology is undeniably useful, it is not fool proof. The chapter uses facial recognition software to illustrate issues with technology. This type of software often comes up with false positives and biases against minority groups. The chapter also raises issues of privacy and civil liberties while referencing the Pegasus spyware scandal as an example.
3. Liberalism and Liberal Internationalism
Authors: Morgan Patrick , Collins Alan
Published: August 2022

This chapter presents the liberalism approach to the theory and practice of international politics. As one of the two classic conceptions, along with realism, of international politics, its chief characteristics are identified and the major liberalist schools of thought are described and briefly examined, particularly with reference to how they overlap with, yet depart in significant ways from, the realist perspective. The concluding sections explore how contemporary liberal internationalism has lost significant power and appeal because the major Western states of the world system are experiencing serious international and domestic difficulties. It closes by indicating that the Western liberal internationalist order will likely lose a sizeable portion of its long-standing international dominance, resulting in a more widely spread global security management arrangement among a larger number of major states.
9. Postcolonialism
Authors: Laffey Mark , Nadarajah Suthaharan
Published: August 2022

This chapter introduces postcolonialism as a set of increasingly influential positions and perspectives within the wider discipline of International Relations and sketches its implications for security studies. It begins with postcolonialism’s genealogies, tracing its emergence in a set of transnational debates about the mutually constitutive relations between knowledge and imperialism. The chapter then lays out the standard account of world history as organized around Westphalian sovereignty which informs security studies and shows how postcolonialism puts it in question, forcing the international to be reconceived as the context within which security is defined, practised, and studied. Third, the chapter puts postcolonialism to work and discusses what it might mean to decolonize security studies. In a short conclusion, it returns to the question of the tense relations between security studies and postcolonialism itself.
18. Economic Security
Authors: Shiffman Gary M.
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides an economic framework for analysing and countering organized violence. Looking closely at economics as a scientific approach to understanding human behaviour provides insight into the real-life of criminals, terrorists, and insurgents. Individuals make decisions under conditions of scarcity, and markets, firms, and entrepreneurs organize much of human behaviour. Understanding these dynamics can inform how policy-makers, analysts, and operators promote security.
21. Weapons of Mass Destruction
Authors: Wirtz James J.
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines how weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) work and the effects they might have if used on the battlefield or against civilian targets. The threat posed by WMD proliferation to state actors is of increasing concern, and it is even more alarming if these weapons are deployed for terrorism purposes. A chemical weapons attack against a major sporting venue, for example, could kill thousands of people, while a successful anthrax attack might place hundreds of thousands at risk. The chapter considers how WMDs such as nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and biological weapons have been used in war and how they have shaped the practice of international politics.
22. Terrorism
Authors: Lutz Brenda , Lutz James
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines the global threat posed by terrorism. Efforts to deal with terrorism can be considered within the framework of terrorism as warfare, terrorism as crime, and terrorism as disease. Which of these views is adopted often plays a role in determining what kinds of measures to use to counter terrorism. Terrorism is a technique of action available to many different groups; security measures that work with one group may not be effective with others. As a consequence, dealing with terrorism in today’s world can be a very complex process. The chapter first discusses concepts and definitions relating to terrorism before describing various types and causes of terrorism. It also analyses counterterrorism measures within the scope of prevention, response to attacks, international collaboration, and the effects of security. Three case studies involving the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Irish Republican Army are presented.
29. After the Return to Theory: The Past, Present, and Future of Security Studies
Authors: Wæver Ole , Buzan Barry
Published: August 2022

This chapter presents an interpretation of the past and present of security studies with an emphasis on the changing periods of theory production and practical problem solving. The field started out as a distinct US specialty much shaped by the new conditions of the 1940s set by nuclear weapons and a long-term mobilization against the Soviet Union, two factors that created a need for a new kind of civilian expert in defence and strategy. From an American, think-tank-based, interdisciplinary field, security studies became institutionalized as a part of one discipline, International Relations (IR), increasingly international and with theory anchored in the universities. Since the 1990s, the field has been in a new period of high theory productivity, but largely in two separate clusters with the USA and Europe as centres of each. This analysis is used as a basis for raising some central questions and predictions about the future of the field.
1. Introduction
Authors: Cini Michelle , Pérez-Solórzano Borragán Nieves
Published: August 2022

This chapter comprises a very brief introduction to European Union (EU) politics. It aims to help those students who are completely new to the EU by drawing attention to some general background information and context, which should help to make sense of the chapters that follow. To that end this introductory chapter begins by explaining what the EU is, why it was originally set up, and what the EU does. The chapter ends by explaining how the book is organized.
6. Theorizing the European Union after Integration Theory
Authors: Rosamond Ben
Published: August 2022

This chapter deals with recent theoretical work on the European Union. Three broad analytical pathways are discussed: comparative political science; a revitalized international relations (IR); and ‘critical theories’. This chapter discusses in turn the contribution to EU studies of comparative political science in general and new institutionalist political science, and in particular the emergence of social constructivist approaches to the EU, IR’s contribution to the theorization of EU external action, together with approaches from the subfield of international political economy (IPE), and a variety of critical theoretical readings of the EU. The chapter also explores how IR theories might be brought back into EU studies. The purpose of the chapter is to show how the EU still raises significant questions about the nature of authority, statehood, and the organization of the international system. These questions are doubly significant in the present period of crisis, where the issue of ‘disintegration’ comes to the fore.
14. Interest Groups and the European Union
Authors: Eising Rainer , Sollik Julia
Published: August 2022

This chapter examines the role of interest groups in European Union (EU) politics. It also considers the way in which the EU institutions influence interest group structures and activities. The chapter begins with an overview of the relationship between the EU institutions and interest groups and the proceddures of lobbying before examining the steps taken thus far to regulate that relationship. It then looks at the evolution and the structure of the interest group system, focusing in particular on two salient aspects: the difference between national and EU organizations; and the difference between specific and diffuse interests.
15. Citizens and Public Opinion in the European Union
Authors: Guerra Simona , Trenz Hans-Jörg
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides an overview of trends in public opinion towards the European Union (EU). The chapter also discusses the key factors thought to explain differences in mass opinion regarding the EU. These include political economy and rationality; that is, opinions stemming from calculations about the costs and benefits of the EU; perceptions of the national government (domestic proxies); the influence of political elites; political psychology, including cognitive mobilization (attentiveness to politics) and concerns about the loss of national identity; and, finally, the role of the mass media in driving opinions regarding the EU.
29. The Future of the EU
Authors: Laffan Brigid
Published: August 2022

This chapter is structured around four scenarios on the future of the European Union (EU): ‘Disintegration’, ‘Piecemeal Adjustment’, ‘Functional Federalism’, and ‘A European Sovereignty’. The EU is now facing the immense challenges of climate change, the accelerating digital transformation, Europe’s unstable neighborhood and the impact on Europe’s role in the world arising from the return of Great Power competition, all against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. The perennial questions about the EU remain—how does it collectively amass sufficient political authority to address Europe’s challenges while maintaining its legitimacy? How can it be resilient as a Union while managing the deep diversity that characterizes Europe? Disintegrative fissures cannot be ignored. Piecemeal Adjustment continues to have resonance, as does Functional Federalism,. ‘A European Sovereignty’ sometimes defined as ‘strategic autonomy’ emerged on the political agenda with the election of French President Macron in May 2017.
8. The EU as a Global Actor
Authors: Helwig Niklas
Published: August 2022

The EU’s ambitions to be a global power are a surprising by-product of European integration. Students of European foreign policy mostly focus on EU trade, aid, and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). But the national foreign policy activities of its member states cannot be neglected. On most economic issues, the EU is able to speak with a single voice. It has more difficulty showing solidarity on aid policy but is powerful when it does. The Union’s external policy aspirations now extend to traditional foreign and security policy. But distinct national policies persist, and the EU suffers from fragmented leadership. The chapter begins by considering the development of EU foreign policy and then considers how a national system of foreign policies exists alongside EU policies in the area of trade and international development. It then examines the EU’s CFSP and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
11. Conclusion
Authors: Kenealy Daniel , Hadfield Amelia , Corbett Richard
Published: August 2022

The EU is extraordinary, complex and—in important respects—unique. This concluding chapter revisits three key themes that can help structure understanding of the EU: experimentation and change; power sharing and consensus; and scope and capacity. It also returns to the question: how can we best explain the EU and how it works? Finally, the chapter confronts the question: ‘Where do we go from here’? Does knowing how the EU works give clues about how it might work in the future? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic will the EU develop in a more intergovernmental or federal manner? Or will the sort of flexible pragmatism that has helped the EU survive to this point characterize the future?
TFIIB-related factor 1 is a nucleolar protein that promotes RNA polymerase I-directed transcription and tumour cell growth
Authors: Wang Juan , Chen Qiyue , Wang Xin , Zhao Shasha , Deng Huan , Guo Baoqiang , Zhang Cheng , Song Xiaoye , Deng Wensheng , Zhang Tongcun , Ni Hongwei
Published: August 2022

Eukaryotic RNA polymerase I (Pol I) products play fundamental roles in ribosomal assembly, protein synthesis, metabolism and cell growth. Abnormal expression of both Pol I transcription-related factors and Pol I products causes a range of diseases, including ribosomopathies and cancers. However, the factors and mechanisms governing Pol I-dependent transcription remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that transcription factor IIB-related factor 1 (BRF1), a subunit of transcription factor IIIB required for RNA polymerase III (Pol III)-mediated transcription, is a nucleolar protein and modulates Pol I-mediated transcription. We showed that BRF1 can be localized to the nucleolus in several human cell types. BRF1 expression correlates positively with Pol I product levels and tumour cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Pol III transcription inhibition assays confirmed that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription in an independent manner rather than through a Pol III product-to-45S pre-rRNA feedback mode. Mechanistically, BRF1 binds to the Pol I transcription machinery components and can be recruited to the rDNA promoter along with them. Additionally, alteration of BRF1 expression affects the recruitment of Pol I transcription machinery components to the rDNA promoter and the expression of TBP and TAF1A. These findings indicate that BRF1 modulates Pol I-directed transcription by controlling the expression of selective factor 1 subunits. In summary, we identified a novel role of BRF1 in Pol I-directed transcription, suggesting that BRF1 can independently regulate both Pol I- and Pol III-mediated transcription and act as a key coordinator of Pol I and Pol III.
Plasma proteomics identifies CRTAC1 as a biomarker for osteoarthritis severity and progression
Authors: Szilagyi Ingrid A , Vallerga Costanza L , Boer Cindy G , Schiphof Dieuwke , Ikram M Arfan , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita M A , van Meurs Joyce B J
Published: August 2022

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers for radiographic OA severity and progression acting within the inflammation and metabolic pathways.

Methods

For 3517 Rotterdam Study participants, 184 plasma protein levels were measured using Olink inflammation and cardiometabolic panels. We studied associations with severity and progression of knee, hip and hand OA and a composite overall OA burden score by multivariable regression models, adjusting for age, sex, cell counts and BMI.

Results

We found 18 significantly associated proteins for overall OA burden, of which 5 stayed significant after multiple testing correction: circulating cartilage acidic protein 1 (CRTAC1), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), thrombospondin 4, IL-18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) and TNF ligand superfamily member 14. These proteins were also associated with progression of knee OA, with the exception of IL-18R1. The strongest association was found for the level of CRTAC1, with 1 s.d. increase in protein level resulting in an increase of 0.09 (95% CI 0.06, 0.12) in the overall OA Kellgren–Lawrence sum score (P = 2.9 × 10−8) in the model adjusted for age, sex, BMI and cell counts. This association was also present with the severity of OA in all three joints and progression of knee OA and was independent of BMI. We observed a stronger association for CRTAC1 with OA than for the well-known OA biomarker COMP.

Conclusion

We identified several compelling biomarkers reflecting the overall OA burden and the increased risk for OA progression. CRTAC1 was the most compelling and robust biomarker for OA severity and progression. Such a biomarker may be used for disease monitoring.
A New Wolf in Town? Pump-and-Dump Manipulation in Cryptocurrency Markets
Authors: Dhawan Anirudh , Putniņš Tālis J
Published: August 2022

We investigate the puzzle of widespread participation in cryptocurrency pump-and-dump manipulation schemes. Unlike stock market manipulators, cryptocurrency manipulators openly declare their intentions to pump specific coins, rather than trying to deceive investors. Puzzlingly, people join in despite negative expected returns. In a simple framework, we demonstrate how overconfidence and gambling preferences can explain participation in these schemes. Analyzing a sample of 355 cases in 6 months, we find strong empirical support for both mechanisms. Pumps generate extreme price distortions of 65% on average, abnormal trading volumes in the millions of dollars, and large wealth transfers between participants.
RESPONSE OF CURRENT AREA DOSEMETERS TO NEW OPERATIONAL QUANTITIES
Authors: Čemusová Zina , Ekendahl Daniela , Judas Libor , Kapuciánová Michaela , Kuča Petr , Vykydal Zdeněk
Published: August 2022

New operational quantities for external radiation exposure presented by the ICRU brought changes, which can affect the use of current dosemeters. Dosemeters calibrated in the old quantities should be tested, and the results obtained should be analyzed with respect to the new quantities. The difference between the old and new quantities depends primarily on photon energy. This work concerns instruments for area monitoring, which were exposed to reference photon and neutron spectra of mean energies from 65 to 1250 keV and from 0.02 to 10 MeV, respectively. As expected, it was revealed that the current photon dosemeters overestimate the new quantity ambient dose. For the measurements within the energy interval chosen, it seems to be acceptable to implement a correction factor to optimize the response. For the purposes of measurements of photons of lower energies, further research would be needed. To adapt the response of the neutron dosemeter tested, recalibration or redesign can be considered, but no fundamental changes seem to be necessary for the investigated spectra.
Effects of Antipsychotic Medications and Illness Duration on Brain Features That Distinguish Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Zeng Jiaxin , Zhang Wenjing , Wu Guorong , Wang Xiaowan , Shah Chandan , Li Siyi , Xiao Yuan , Yao Li , Cao Hengyi , Li Zhenlin , Sweeney John A , Lui Su , Gong Qiyong
Published: August 2022

Background and Hypothesis

Previous studies have reported effects of antipsychotic treatment and illness duration on brain features. This study used a machine learning approach to examine whether these factors in aggregate impacted the utility of MRI features for differentiating individual schizophrenia patients from healthy controls.

Study Design

This case-control study used patients with never-treated first-episode schizophrenia (FES, n = 179) and long-term ill schizophrenia (LTSZ, n = 30), with follow-up of the FES group after treatment (n = 71), a group of patients who had received long-term antipsychotic treatment (n = 93) and age and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 373) for each patient group. A multiple kernel learning classifier combining both structural and functional brain features was used to discriminate individual patients from controls.

Study Results

MRI features differentiated untreated FES (0.73) and LTSZ (0.83) patients from healthy controls with moderate accuracy, but accuracy was significantly higher in antipsychotic-treated FES (0.94) and LTSZ (0.98) patients. Treatment was associated with significantly increased accuracy of case identification in both early course and long-term ill patients (both p < .001). Effects of illness duration, examined separately in treated and untreated patients, were less robust.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that initiation of antipsychotic treatment alters brain features in ways that further distinguish individual schizophrenia patients from healthy individuals, and have a modest effect of illness duration. Intrinsic illness-related brain alterations in untreated patients, regardless of illness duration, are not sufficiently robust for accurate identification of schizophrenia patients.
Factors Associated with Infant Deaths in Indonesia: An Analysis of the 2012 and 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys
Authors: Wardani Yuniar , Huang Ya-Li , Chuang Ying-Chih
Published: August 2022

Background

This exploratory study aimed to investigate factors related to infant deaths using a conceptual framework that explains the risk factors of infant deaths in developing countries.

Methods

The study adopted a cross-sectional study design and used data from the 2012 and 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Surveys, with a sample of 3694 singleton live births in 2012 and 3413 in 2017.

Results

Female infants had a lower chance of mortality compared to male infants [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.34–0.77]. Infants with a smaller birth size had a higher risk of infant death compared to those with an average size (aOR = 5.66; 95% CI = 3.66–8.77). The risk of infant death with a preceding birth interval of ≥24 months was lower than that with a preceding birth interval of <24 months (aOR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.26–0.90). An older maternal age was a risk factor for infant death compared to younger mothers (aOR = 3.61; 95% CI = 1.42–9.23). Infants who were born in Sumatra (aOR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.16–0.89) and Java and Bali (aOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.14–0.78) were less likely to die than infants who were born in Papua and Maluku.

Conclusions

A higher infant death risk was associated with male babies and a shorter birth interval (<24 months). Mothers who perceived their babies to be small and mothers who were older (35–49 years old) were high-risk factors for infant mortality. Mothers who lived in Java and Bali as well as Sumatera were less likely to experience infant mortality compared to those who lived in Papua and Maluku.
Treatment Strategies for Obstetric Puerperal Genital Hematomas
Authors: Gutierrez Allison J. , Dawodu Konyinsola , Mayer Kaitlyn Huegel , McGill April L.
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND:

Puerperal genital hematoma is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication of childbirth. There are three approaches to care: expectant management, surgical evacuation, or uterine artery embolization.

CASES:

This retrospective case series compares the clinical courses of three patients who developed puerperal genital hematoma and were managed differently. We report the length of time to complete resolution of the hematomas and the associated morbidities for each patient.

CONCLUSION:

All three management approaches of puerperal genital hematoma can be effective. Among our three patients, surgical intervention of the puerperal genital hematoma provided the most prompt and definitive management with resolution of all symptoms in 9 days, compared with 3 weeks for expectant management and 20 weeks for treatment with uterine artery embolization. Intervention should be individualized based on the patient's symptoms, stability, and desires with consideration of the hematoma size and location as well as available institutional resources.