bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How the refugee crisis and radical right parties shape party competition on immigration
Authors: Gessler Theresa , Hunger Sophia
Published: November 2021

While the structure of party competition evolves slowly, crisis-like events can induce short-term change to the political agenda. This may be facilitated by challenger parties who might benefit from increased attention to issues they own. We study the dynamic of such shifts through mainstream parties’ response to the 2015 refugee crisis, which strongly affected public debate and election outcomes across Europe. Specifically, we analyse how parties changed their issue emphasis and positions regarding immigration before, during, and after the refugee crisis. Our study is based on a corpus of 120,000 press releases between 2013 and 2017 from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. We identify immigration-related press releases using a novel dictionary and estimate party positions. The resulting monthly salience and positions measures allow for studying changes in close time-intervals, providing crucial detail for disentangling the impact of the crisis itself and the contribution of right-wing parties. While we provide evidence that attention to immigration increased drastically for all parties during the crisis, radical right parties drove the attention of mainstream parties. However, the attention of mainstream parties to immigration decreased toward the end of the refugee crisis and there is limited evidence of parties accommodating the positions of the radical right.
Save the Appearances! Toward an Arendtian Environmental Politics
Authors: EPHRAIM LAURA
Published: November 2021

Drawing critical resources from Hannah Arendt, this article argues for a revaluation of the appearances of nature in environmental political theory and practice. At a time when pervasive anthropogenic contamination threatens the very survival of vulnerable communities and species, it would be wrong to revive the timeworn mythos of nature as an untrammeled beauty. Instead, with Arendt’s help, I advocate an environmental politics rooted in an alternative aesthetic of nature, one that respects and seeks to protect earth’s diverse lifeforms for the sake of their strange, disquieting appearances of otherness. Earth’s living displays of alterity are valuable, I argue, for their propensity to upset the destructive logic of mass production and consumption and spur political action. In an Arendtian frame, we can better recognize interdependence between biological and political life and appreciate the role of nonhuman lifeforms in constituting spaces of appearance where human freedom and plurality may flourish.
The Economic Consequences of Banking Crises: The Role of Central Banks and Optimal Independence
Authors: HANSEN DANIEL
Published: November 2021

A large literature establishes the benefits of central bank independence, yet very few have shown directly negative economic consequences. Furthermore, while prevailing monetary theory suggests CBI should enhance management of economic distress, I argue that independent central banks exhibit tepid responsiveness to banking instability due to a myopic focus on inflation. I show that banking crises produce larger unemployment shocks and credit and stock market contractions when the level of central bank independence is high. Further, I show that these significant economic costs are mitigated when central banks do not have the inflation-centric policy mandates predominantly considered necessary. When the bank has high operational and political independence, banks’ whose policy mandate does not rigidly prioritize inflation produce significantly better outcomes during banking crises. At the same time, I show that this configuration does not produce higher inflation, suggesting it achieves a more flexible design without incurring significant costs.
Important roles of amino acids in immune responses
Authors: Li Peng , Wu Guoyao
Published: November 2021

This commentary highlighted the background, take-home messages, and impacts of our 2007British Journal of Nutritionpaper entitled “Amino acids and immune function”. In 2003–2004, there was an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by SARS coronavirus-1 (CoV-1) in Asian countries. By the mid-2000’s, clinical and experimental evidence indicated important roles for amino acids (AA) in improving innate and adaptive immunities in humans and animals. Based on our long-standing interest in AA metabolism and nutritional immunology, we decided to critically analyze advances in this nutritional field. Furthermore, we proposed a unified mechanism responsible for beneficial effects of AA and their products (including nitric oxide, glutathione, antibodies, and cytokines) on immune responses. We hoped that such integrated knowledge would be helpful for designing AA-based nutritional methods (e.g., supplementation with glutathione, arginine and glutamine) to prevent and treat SARS-like infectious diseases in the future. Our paper laid a framework for subsequent studies to quantify AA metabolism in intestinal bacteria, determine the effects of functional AA on cell-mediated and humoral immunities, and establish a much-needed database of AA composition in foodstuffs. Unexpectedly, COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019 and has become one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Notably, glutathione, arginine and glutamine have now been exploited to effectively relieve severe respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 in affected patients. Functional AA (e.g., arginine, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, taurine and tryptophan) and glutathione, which are all abundant in animal-sourced foodstuffs, are crucial for optimum immunity and health in humans and animals.
Effect of ammonia concentration on rumen microbial protein production in vitro
Authors: Dewhurst Richard J. , Newbold John R.
Published: November 2021

We review key findings of one the most cited papers in the 75-year history of BJN. We then identify important consequent developments, as well as opportunities to use analytical and molecular biology advances to maximise conversion of non-protein nitrogen into microbial protein.
Somatic symptom disorder: a scoping review on the empirical evidence of a new diagnosis
Authors: Löwe Bernd , Levenson James , Depping Miriam , Hüsing Paul , Kohlmann Sebastian , Lehmann Marco , Shedden-Mora Meike , Toussaint Anne , Uhlenbusch Natalie , Weigel Angelika
Published: November 2021

Background

In 2013, the diagnosis of somatic symptom disorder (SSD) was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This review aims to comprehensively synthesize contemporary evidence related to SSD.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. The main inclusion criteria were SSD and publication in the English language between 01/2009 and 05/2020. Systematic search terms also included subheadings for the DSM-5 text sections; i.e., diagnostic features, prevalence, development and course, risk and prognostic factors, culture, gender, suicide risk, functional consequences, differential diagnosis, and comorbidity.

Results

Eight hundred and eighty-two articles were identified, of which 59 full texts were included for analysis. Empirical evidence supports the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of SSD diagnostic criteria, but the further specification of the psychological SSD B-criteria criteria seems necessary. General population studies using self-report questionnaires reported mean frequencies for SSD of 12.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 12.5–13.3%], while prevalence studies based on criterion standard interviews are lacking. SSD was associated with increased functional impairment, decreased quality of life, and high comorbidity with anxiety and depressive disorders. Relevant research gaps remain regarding developmental aspects, risk and prognostic factors, suicide risk as well as culture- and gender-associated issues.

Conclusions

Strengths of the SSD diagnosis are its good reliability, validity, and clinical utility, which substantially improved on its predecessors. SSD characterizes a specific patient population that is significantly impaired both physically and psychologically. However, substantial research gaps exist, e.g., regarding SSD prevalence assessed with criterion standard diagnostic interviews.
Benefits of volunteerism for middle-aged and older adults: comparisons between types of volunteering activities
Authors: Lam Alfred H. K. , Yeung Dannii Y. , Chung Edwin K. H.
Published: November 2021

Volunteering is a popular activity among middle-aged and older adults as means to contribute to the society and to maintain personal health and wellbeing. While the benefits of volunteering have been well-documented in the current literature, it does not tend to distinguish between various types of volunteering activities. This cross-sectional study aims to compare the effects of instrumental (e.g. food preparation, fundraising) and cognitively demanding volunteering activities (e.g. befriending, mentoring) in a sample of 487 middle-aged and older Hong Kong Chinese adults. Participation in instrumental and cognitively demanding volunteering, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning and hand-grip strength were measured. The results of two-way between-subject robust analyses of variance demonstrated significant main effects of volunteering type and their interaction effect with age on life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Comparisons among four volunteering groups (no volunteering, instrumental volunteering, cognitively demanding volunteering and both types) revealed that individuals engaging in instrumental volunteering exhibited lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms compared to those who engaged in cognitively demanding volunteering and those who did not volunteer at all. This detrimental pattern of instrumental volunteering was only seen in middle-aged adults, but not in older adults. Findings of this study revealed distinctive effects of two volunteering types, and provide valuable directions for designing future volunteering programmes.
Preschoolers’ emotion reactivity and regulation: Links with maternal psychological distress and child behavior problems
Authors: Tsotsi Stella , Borelli Jessica L. , Backer Mumtaz , Veragoo Noraini , Abdulla Nurshuhadah , Tan Kok Hian , Chong Yap Seng , Chen Helen , Meaney Michael J. , Broekman Birit , Rifkin-Graboi Anne
Published: November 2021

Maladaptive offspring emotion regulation has been identified as one pathway linking maternal and child psychological well-being in school-aged children. Whether such a pathway is present earlier in life still remains unclear. The present study investigated the role of preschoolers’ emotion reactivity and regulation in the association between maternal psychological distress and child internalizing and externalizing problems. Children’s emotion reactivity and regulation were assessed through both observed behavior and physiology. At 42 months of age, children (n = 251; 128 girls) completed a fear induction task during which their heart-rate variability was assessed and their behavior was monitored, and maternal self-reports on depressive mood and anxiety were collected. At 48 months mothers and fathers reported on their children’s internalizing and externalizing problems. Higher maternal depressive mood was associated with lower child fear-related reactivity and regulation, as indexed by heart-rate variability. The latter mediated the association between higher maternal depressive mood and higher preschoolers’ externalizing problems. Overall, our findings support the role of preschoolers’ emotion reactivity and regulation in the relationship between maternal psychological distress and children’s socio-emotional difficulties. This role may also depend on the discrete emotion to which children react or seek to regulate as, here, we only assessed fear-related reactivity and regulation.
The effect of relationship-based interventions for maltreated children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bergsund Hans Bugge , Drozd Filip , Olafsen Kåre S. , Nilsen Karianne Hammerstrøm , Linnerud Siv , Kjøbli John , Jacobsen Heidi
Published: November 2021

Child maltreatment is characterized by a harmful relational environment which can have negative cascading consequences for the child’s development. Relationship-based interventions may improve maltreated children’s functioning by addressing key aspects of the parent-child relationship at various stages of development. The objective of the current study was to perform a systematic review on relationship-based interventions for maltreated children and a meta-analysis on the impact of these interventions on observed parent-child relational behavior. Data collection consisted of a comprehensive literature search in six databases and contacting experts in the field and hand searching relevant publications. In total, 5,802 abstracts were screened, of which 81 relevant publications were identified, representing 4,526 participants. The meta-analysis found large improvements in observed parent interactive behavior (g = 0.888), smaller improvements in child attachment (g = 0.403) and child interactive behavior (g = 0.274). The effect on parent interactive behavior was larger in interventions addressing middle childhood. Risk of bias assessments showed that a large number of studies suffer from poor reporting, which limits the conclusions of the findings. Future research should examine parent-child relationship behavior across multiple developmental stages, as well as the impact of developmentally appropriate intervention elements on maltreated children.
Surgical outcome of Yasui procedure for preserving biventricular function: single centre experience
Authors: Alhadi Omar , Kabbani Mohamed S. , Alhabshan Fahad , Alamer Mohammed , Alomrani Ahmed , Hamadah Hussam
Published: November 2021

Background:

Yasui procedure is surgical repair intended to preserve biventricular function for patients with left ventricle outflow tract obstruction associated with aortic arch lesions and ventricular septal defect.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review analysis of all patients who had Yasui procedure (2008–2020) comparing midterm outcome of one versus two stage repair.

Results:

Twenty patients (70% female) underwent Yasui procedure in our center. Eight patients (40%) had left ventricle outflow tract obstruction /interrupted aortic arch, 7 patients (35%) had left ventricle outflow tract obstruction /coarctation of aorta, 3 patients (15%) had double outlet ventricle and ventricular septal defect that were unattainable for tunneling to one of the semilunar valves without creating obstruction, and 2 patients (10%) had aortic atresia with hypoplastic aortic arch. All patients had associated ventricular septal defect. Fifteen patients (75%) had one-stage repair and 5 patients (25%) had two-stage repair. Means age and weight for one and two-stage repair were 1.3 ± 2 months, 13.4 ± 11.5 months and 3.3 ± 0.6 kg, 7.8 ± 3.4 kg, respectively. During follow up, 8 patients (40%) required re- intervention, mainly for right ventricle–pulmonary artery conduit either dilation or replacement. The average duration of follow up was 5 years with nil mortality.

Conclusion:

Yasui procedure is effective approach for children who have left ventricle outflow tract obstruction associated with aortic arch anomalies and ventricular septal defect. Survival rate with single or staged repair is comparably good. During the first 5 year of follow up, nearly 40% of operated patients required re-intervention.
Examining the trade-offs of palm oil production and consumption from a sustainable diets perspective: lessons learned from Myanmar
Authors: Downs Shauna M , Nicholas Khristopher , Khine Linn Kay , Fanzo Jessica
Published: November 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the trade-offs related to the production and consumption of palm oil in Myanmar from a sustainable diets perspective.

Design:

We used an enhanced value chain analysis approach that included semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders; market analyses to assess edible oils in markets and focus groups as well as surveys with consumers to ascertain their perceptions and practices related to edible oils.

Setting:

Four settings in Myanmar (upper income urban; lower income urban; middle-income urban; lower income rural).

Participants:

Key stakeholders (n 12) from government, trade bodies and civil society organisations were included in the interviews. Women from each of the regions participated in four focus groups (n 32), and a convenience sample of male and female consumers participated in the surveys (n 362).

Results:

We found mistrust of the oil sector overall. Poor production practices, leading to low yields, limit the economic viability of oil palm production in Myanmar and contribute to negative environmental (e.g. deforestation) and social outcomes (e.g. land conflicts). Consumers demonstrated low preferences for palm oil as compared with traditional oils from a taste, health and transparency perspective; however, they indicated that its relative low cost led to its purchase over other oils.

Conclusions:

The Burmese example suggests that there may be limited benefits, and significant costs, of investing in palm oil production in regions where there are coordinating disincentives from a sustainable diets perspective. However, if oil palm cultivation is to continue, there are opportunities to improve its economic viability and environmental sustainability.
A qualitative study of mothers’ health literacy related to malnutrition in under 5-year-old children in southern Mozambique
Authors: Lindberg Leona , Nhambongo Inocência , Nhampossa Tacilta , Munguambe Khátia , Priebe Gunilla
Published: November 2021

Objective:

To explore mothers’ perceptions of malnutrition and its causes in U-5’s in Mozambique, as well as their ability to recognise, prevent and act on signs of malnutrition.

Design:

A qualitative exploratory inquiry using focus group discussions and individual interviews analysed using Nutbeam’s health literacy themes.

Setting:

Manhiça District Hospital in Manhiça, Mozambique.

Participants:

Mothers of U-5’s (n 53) attending the in- and out-patient paediatric wards.

Results:

Different malnutrition literacy levels were identified in mothers’ responses. Mothers’ reflections on the causes of malnutrition in U-5’s were more elaborate compared to those of recognition, prevention and treatment strategies. Only severe forms of acute malnutrition were recognised by mothers, while early signs of undernutrition and stunting largely went undetected or unmentioned. Limited knowledge, time and financial resources were mentioned as contributors to suboptimal practices resulting in malnutrition. The district hospital, rather than community resources or local health posts, was indicated as the place mothers would go to seek advice and treatment for malnutrition. All mothers requested additional information on how to prevent and treat malnutrition.

Conclusions:

The varying literacy levels among mothers, the lack of references to community health workers as a resource in identifying and managing malnutrition, and the identification of poverty and sociocultural conditions as contributors to suboptimal practices indicate the need for in-depth research focused on the social determinants of malnutrition. A more comprehensive understanding of mothers’ health literacy would contribute to the development of holistic programmes aiming to improve community management of malnutrition.
Determining Grain Boundary Position and Geometry from EBSD Data: Limits of Accuracy
Authors: Fullwood David T. , Sanderson Sarah , Baird Sterling , Christensen Jordan , Homer Eric R. , Johnson Oliver K.
Published: November 2021

As the feature size of crystalline materials gets smaller, the ability to correctly interpret geometrical sample information from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data becomes more important. This paper uses the notion of transition curves, associated with line scans across grain boundaries (GBs), to correctly account for the finite size of the excitation volume (EV) in the determination of the geometry of the boundary. Various metrics arising from the EBSD data are compared to determine the best experimental proxy for actual numbers of backscattered electrons that are tracked in a Monte Carlo simulation. Consideration of the resultant curves provides an accurate method of determining GB position (at the sample surface) and indicates a significant potential for error in determining GB position using standard EBSD software. Subsequently, simple criteria for comparing experimental and simulated transition curves are derived. Finally, it is shown that the EV is too shallow for the curves to reveal subsurface geometry of the GB (i.e., GB inclination angle) for most values of GB inclination.
Divorce after breast cancer diagnosis and its impact on quality of life
Authors: Kang Danbee , Kim Nayeon , Han Gayeon , Kim Sooyeon , Kim Hoyoung , Lim Jihyun , Kim Hyunsoo , Shim Sungkeun , Lee Mangyeong , Lee Jeong Eon , Nam Seok Jin , Kim Seok Won , Yu Jonghan , Lee Se Kyung , Cho Juhee
Published: November 2021

Objective

This study aims to identify factors associated with divorce following breast cancer diagnosis and measures the impact of divorce on the quality of life (QoL) of patients.

Methods

We used cross-sectional survey data collected at breast cancer outpatient clinics in South Korea from November 2018 to April 2019. Adult breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment without any cancer recurrence at the time of the survey (N = 4,366) were included. The participants were classified into two groups: “maintaining marriage” and “being divorced,” between at the survey and at the cancer diagnosis. We performed logistic regression and linear regression to identify the factors associated with divorce after cancer diagnosis and to compare the QoL of divorced and nondivorced survivors.

Results

Approximately 11.1/1,000 of married breast cancer survivors experienced divorce after cancer diagnosis. Younger age, lower education, and being employed at diagnosis were associated with divorce. Being divorced survivors had significantly lower QoL (Coefficient [Coef] = −7.50; 95% CI = −13.63, −1.36), social functioning (Coef = −9.47; 95% CI = −16.36, −2.57), and body image (Coef = −8.34; 95% CI = −6.29, −0.39) than survivors who remained married. They also experienced more symptoms including pain, insomnia, financial difficulties, and distress due to hair loss.

Conclusion

Identifying risk factors of divorce will ultimately help ascertain the resources necessary for early intervention.
Elitism in Democracy
Authors: Graves Stephen
Published: November 2021

The concept of the common good represents those resources that are good for an entire group as a whole, or what preserves what the people or inhabitants of the national community have in common. The “good” are those things that benefit the community as a whole; lead to the protection, sustainment, and improvement of the community. Theorists agree that it is the ultimate end of government; the good of all its citizens and void of special interests. Theories of the common good are discussed in this paper with implications regarding the shortcomings of democratic political institutions and structures. The theoretical framework provided by the political thought of W. E. B. Du Bois and Friedrich Nietzsche are used to critically examine the idea of the common good in contemporary democratic societies. Du Bois sought an objective truth that could dispel once and for all the irrational prejudices and ignorances that stood in the way of a just social order for African Americans. Nietzsche’s political theory was primarily concerned with disdain for democracy and the need for Aristocratic forms and social ordering. He was skeptical that with the demise of religion, it would be possible to achieve an effective normative consensus in society at large which is needed to legitimize government authority. Both theorists agree that the exceptional and great individuals are few in society and should govern in favor of the masses. Based on their example, this paper argues that both authors are suggesting an Epistocratic form of government where those with political knowledge are privileged.
A pilot practice-based outcomes evaluation of low-intensity cognitive behavioural interventions delivered by postgraduate trainees to children and young people with mild to moderate anxiety or low mood: an efficient way forward in mental health care?
Authors: Lockhart Gavin , Jones Christina , Sopp Victoria
Published: November 2021

Anxiety and depression affect a significant number of children and young people (CYP) and can have a far reaching and long-lasting impact. Cognitive behavioural (CB) interventions can be effective for treating anxiety and depression in CYP but are difficult to access. Recent government policy in England seeks to train a non-traditional graduate workforce to deliver a range of CB interventions for mild to moderate anxiety and depression to CYP, in community settings. This practice-based evaluation aimed to estimate the effectiveness of CB interventions delivered by postgraduate trainees undertaking training in a range of CB interventions for mild to moderate anxiety and depression whilst on placement in schools or community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Self- and parent-reported routine outcome measures (ROMS) were completed pre- and post-intervention, including measures of symptom severity, symptom impact and goal achievement. Significant improvements were demonstrated across all self and parent-reported measures post-intervention, with mean scores falling firmly in the non-clinical range, a significant reduction in the proportion of CYP in the clinical range on measures, and predominantly medium to large effect sizes. Results are promising in terms of the capacity to train a graduate workforce to deliver a range of low-intensity CB interventions to CYP experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety-based difficulties in either CAMHS or school settings, increasing capacity across the system. The current practice-based evaluation also supports the potential effectiveness of current training models/programmes. Further research is needed in terms of long-term outcomes and to compare outcomes between settings, interventions, and demographic groups.

Key learning aims

(1)

To understand the potential prevalence rates of mental health difficulties in children and young people in England, and their wider impact.

(2)

Critical awareness of the evidence base for cognitive and behavioural interventions for depression and anxiety in children and young people.

(3)

Awareness of gaps in access to evidence-based psychological interventions for children and young people in England.

(4)

Knowledge of emerging graduate-level low-intensity psychological practitioner roles in England.

(5)

Awareness of the emerging evidence base for the estimated effectiveness of low-intensity cognitive and behavioural interventions delivered to children and young people by graduate-level practitioners in schools and community mental health settings.
Predicting Thermal Responses of an Arctic Lake to Whole‐Lake Warming Manipulation
Authors: Zhang Qunhui , Jin Jiming , Budy Phaedra , Null Sarah E. , Wang Xiaochun , Pennock Casey A.
Published: November 2021

We investigated how lake thermal processes responded to whole lake warming manipulation in an arctic lake through observations and numerical modeling. The warming manipulation was conducted by artificially heating the epilimnion as a proxy for climate warming. We performed numerical modeling with an improved lake scheme based on the Community Land Model (CLM). We simulated a control run (CTL) without warming and a warming manipulation simulation (WARM). Results indicated WARM accurately captured observed temperatures where water stratification was extended in time, and water stability was strengthened. Two additional sensitivity tests with different warming onset dates and of the same warming duration showed that earlier warming onsets are predicted to make the water column more stable and less easily mixed relative to a later onset of warming. The results provide a more complete understanding of lake thermal processes in arctic freshwater lake systems and how they will respond to predicted future warming.
Rapid Freshening of Iceland Scotland Overflow Water Driven by Entrainment of a Major Upper Ocean Salinity Anomaly
Authors: Devana Manish S. , Johns William E. , Houk Adam , Zou Sijia
Published: November 2021

Newly available mooring observations from the Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP) show an abrupt decline in Iceland Scotland Overflow (ISOW) salinity from 2017 to 2018 summer. Previous declines in ISOW salinity of similar magnitude have largely been attributed to changes in convectively formed deep waters in the Nordic Seas on decadal time scales. We show that this rapid decline in salinity was driven by entrainment of a major upper ocean salinity anomaly in the Iceland Basin. This is shown by tracking the propagation of the upper ocean anomaly into ISOW using a combination of mooring and Argo observations, surface drifter trajectories, and numerical model results. A 2‐year total transit time from the upper ocean into the ISOW layer was found. The results show that entrainment allows for rapid modification of ISOW, and consequently the lower limb of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, on subdecadal timescales.
Simulations With the Marine Biogeochemistry Library (MARBL)
Authors: Long Matthew C. , Moore J. Keith , Lindsay Keith , Levy Michael , Doney Scott C. , Luo Jessica Y. , Krumhardt Kristen M. , Letscher Robert T. , Grover Maxwell , Sylvester Zephyr T.
Published: November 2021

The Marine Biogeochemistry Library (MARBL) is a prognostic ocean biogeochemistry model that simulates marine ecosystem dynamics and the coupled cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, silicon, and oxygen. MARBL is a component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM); it supports flexible ecosystem configuration of multiple phytoplankton and zooplankton functional types; it is also portable, designed to interface with multiple ocean circulation models. Here, we present scientific documentation of MARBL, describe its configuration in CESM2 experiments included in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 6 (CMIP6), and evaluate its performance against a number of observational data sets. The model simulates present‐day air‐sea CO2 flux and many aspects of the carbon cycle in good agreement with observations. However, the simulated integrated uptake of anthropogenic CO2 is weak, which we link to poor thermocline ventilation, a feature evident in simulated chlorofluorocarbon distributions. This also contributes to larger‐than‐observed oxygen minimum zones. Moreover, radiocarbon distributions show that the simulated circulation in the deep North Pacific is extremely sluggish, yielding extensive oxygen depletion and nutrient trapping at depth. Surface macronutrient biases are generally positive at low latitudes and negative at high latitudes. CESM2 simulates globally integrated net primary production (NPP) of 48 Pg C yr−1 and particulate export flux at 100 m of 7.1 Pg C yr−1. The impacts of climate change include an increase in globally integrated NPP, but substantial declines in the North Atlantic. Particulate export is projected to decline globally, attributable to decreasing export efficiency associated with changes in phytoplankton community composition.
KRAS mutation: from undruggable to druggable in cancer
Authors: Huang Lamei , Guo Zhixing , Wang Fang , Fu Liwu
Published: November 2021

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and its treatment and outcomes have been dramatically revolutionised by targeted therapies. As the most frequently mutated oncogene, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS) has attracted substantial attention. The understanding of KRAS is constantly being updated by numerous studies on KRAS in the initiation and progression of cancer diseases. However, KRAS has been deemed a challenging therapeutic target, even “undruggable”, after drug-targeting efforts over the past four decades. Recently, there have been surprising advances in directly targeted drugs for KRAS, especially in KRAS (G12C) inhibitors, such as AMG510 (sotorasib) and MRTX849 (adagrasib), which have obtained encouraging results in clinical trials. Excitingly, AMG510 was the first drug-targeting KRAS (G12C) to be approved for clinical use this year. This review summarises the most recent understanding of fundamental aspects of KRAS, the relationship between the KRAS mutations and tumour immune evasion, and new progress in targeting KRAS, particularly KRAS (G12C). Moreover, the possible mechanisms of resistance to KRAS (G12C) inhibitors and possible combination therapies are summarised, with a view to providing the best regimen for individualised treatment with KRAS (G12C) inhibitors and achieving truly precise treatment.
A novel cytokine consisting of the p40 and EBI3 subunits suppresses experimental autoimmune arthritis via reciprocal regulation of Th17 and Treg cells
Authors: Lee Seon-Yeong , Moon Su-Jin , Moon Young-Mee , Seo Hyeon-Beom , Ryu Jun-Geol , Lee A Ram , Lee Chae Rim , Kim Da-Som , Her Yang-Mi , Choi Jeong Won , Kwok Seung-Ki , Park Sung-Hwan , Cho Mi-La
Published: November 2021

Objective

The interleukin (IL)-12 cytokine family is closely related to the development of T helper cells, which are responsible for autoimmune disease enhancement or suppression. IL-12 family members are generally heterodimers and share three α-subunits (p35, p19, and p28) and two β-subunits (p40 and EBI3). However, a β-sheet p40 homodimer has been shown to exist and antagonize IL-12 and IL-23 signaling1. Therefore, we assumed the existence of a p40-EBI3 heterodimer in nature and sought to investigate its role in immune regulation.

Methods

The presence of the p40-EBI3 heterodimer was confirmed by ELISA, immunoprecipitation, and western blotting. A p40-EBI3 vector and p40-EBI3-Fc protein were synthesized to confirm the immunological role of this protein in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The anti-inflammatory effects of p40-EBI3 were analyzed with regard to clinical, histological, and immune cell-regulating features in mice with CIA.

Results

Clinical arthritis scores and the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-17, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) were significantly attenuated in p40-EBI3-overexpressing and p40-EBI3-Fc-treated mice with CIA compared to vehicle-treated mice with CIA. Structural joint damage and vessel formation-related gene expression were also reduced by p40-EBI3 heterodimer treatment. In vitro, the p40-EBI3-Fc protein significantly suppressed the differentiation of Th17 cells and reciprocally induced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+(regulatory T) cells. p40-EBI3 also inhibited osteoclast formation in a concentration-dependent manner.

Conclusion

In this study, p40-EBI3 ameliorated proinflammatory conditions both in vivo and in vitro. We propose that p40-EBI3 is a novel anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in suppressing the immune response through the expansion of Treg cells and suppression of Th17 cells and osteoclastogenesis.
Attitudes among parents of persons with autism spectrum disorder towards information about genetic risk and future health
Authors: Johannessen Jarle , Nærland Terje , Hope Sigrun , Torske Tonje , Kaale Anett , Wirgenes Katrine V. , Malt Eva , Djurovic Srdjan , Rietschel Marcella , Andreassen Ole A.
Published: November 2021

Clinical relevance of genetic testing is increasing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Information about genetic risk may contribute to improved diagnostics, treatment and family planning, but may also be perceived as a burden. Knowledge about the families’ preferences with regard to genetic risk information is important for both health care professionals and policy makers. We investigated attitudes towards sharing information about genetic risk of ASD and knowledge about future health among parent members of the Norwegian Autism Association (N = 1455) using a questionnaire, and the relationships with parent and child characteristics, such as age, gender and ASD severity. Most preferred autonomy in deciding whom to inform about genetic risk of ASD (74.4%) and a minority supported extensive intra-familial disclosure of the genetic risk (41.1%). The majority agreed that it is an obligation to know as much as possible relevant for future health (58.0%) and only 51.7% agreed to a principle of a ‘right not to know’. In regression models, the attitudes were associated with opinions about benefits and harms of genetic testing (e.g., treatment, family planning, understanding of ASD pathology, insurance discrimination and family conflict). In sum, the findings show that most parents want to know as much as possible relevant for their children’s future health and keep their autonomy and intra-familial confidentiality about genetic risk information. Nearly half of the parents were not concerned with a “right not to know”. These attitudes can inform development of guidelines and bioethics in the age of genomic precision medicine.
Atomistic Line Graph Neural Network for improved materials property predictions
Authors: Choudhary Kamal , DeCost Brian
Published: November 2021

Graph neural networks (GNN) have been shown to provide substantial performance improvements for atomistic material representation and modeling compared with descriptor-based machine learning models. While most existing GNN models for atomistic predictions are based on atomic distance information, they do not explicitly incorporate bond angles, which are critical for distinguishing many atomic structures. Furthermore, many material properties are known to be sensitive to slight changes in bond angles. We present an Atomistic Line Graph Neural Network (ALIGNN), a GNN architecture that performs message passing on both the interatomic bond graph and its line graph corresponding to bond angles. We demonstrate that angle information can be explicitly and efficiently included, leading to improved performance on multiple atomistic prediction tasks. We ALIGNN models for predicting 52 solid-state and molecular properties available in the JARVIS-DFT, Materials project, and QM9 databases. ALIGNN can outperform some previously reported GNN models on atomistic prediction tasks with better or comparable model training speed.
Revisiting decompression sickness risk and mobility in the context of the SmartSuit, a hybrid planetary spacesuit
Authors: Kluis Logan , Diaz-Artiles Ana
Published: November 2021

Gas pressurized spacesuits are cumbersome, cause injuries, and are metabolically expensive. Decreasing the gas pressure of the spacesuit is an effective method for improving mobility, but reduction in the total spacesuit pressure also results in a higher risk for decompression sickness (DCS). The risk of DCS is currently mitigated by breathing pure oxygen before the extravehicular activity (EVA) for up to 4 h to remove inert gases from body tissues, but this has a negative operational impact due to the time needed to perform the prebreathe. In this paper, we review and quantify these important trade-offs between spacesuit pressure, mobility, prebreathe time (or risk of DCS), and space habitat/station atmospheric conditions in the context of future planetary EVAs. In addition, we explore these trade-offs in the context of the SmartSuit architecture, a hybrid spacesuit with a soft-robotic layer that, not only increases mobility with assistive actuators in the lower body, but it also applies some level of mechanical counterpressure (MCP). The additional MCP in hybrid spacesuits can be used to supplement the gas pressure (i.e., increasing the total spacesuit pressure), therefore reducing the risk of DCS (or reduce prebreathe time). Alternatively, the MCP can be used to reduce the gas pressure (i.e., maintaining the same total spacesuit pressure), therefore increasing mobility. Finally, we propose a variable pressure concept of operations for the SmartSuit spacesuit. Our framework quantifies critical spacesuit and habitat trade-offs for future planetary exploration and contributes to the assessment of human health and performance during future planetary EVAs.
Diagnostic value of skin RT-QuIC in Parkinson’s disease: a two-laboratory study
Authors: Kuzkina Anastasia , Bargar Connor , Schmitt Daniela , Rößle Jonas , Wang Wen , Schubert Anna-Lena , Tatsuoka Curtis , Gunzler Steven A. , Zou Wen-Quan , Volkmann Jens , Sommer Claudia , Doppler Kathrin , Chen Shu G.
Published: November 2021

Skin α-synuclein deposition is considered a potential biomarker for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) is a novel, ultrasensitive, and efficient seeding assay that enables the detection of minute amounts of α-synuclein aggregates. We aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of skin biopsy for diagnosing PD and to explore its correlation with clinical markers of PD in a two-center inter-laboratory comparison study. Patients with clinically diagnosed PD (n = 34), as well as control subjects (n = 30), underwent skin punch biopsy at multiple sites (neck, lower back, thigh, and lower leg). The skin biopsy samples (198 in total) were divided in half to be analyzed by RT-QuIC assay in two independent laboratories. The α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of multiple skin biopsies supported the clinical diagnosis of PD with a diagnostic accuracy of 88.9% and showed a high degree of inter-rater agreement between the two laboratories (92.2%). Higher α-synuclein seeding activity in RT-QuIC was shown in patients with longer disease duration and more advanced disease stage and correlated with the presence of REM sleep behavior disorder, cognitive impairment, and constipation. The α-synuclein RT-QuIC assay of minimally invasive skin punch biopsy is a reliable and reproducible biomarker for Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, α-synuclein RT-QuIC seeding activity in the skin may serve as a potential indicator of progression as it correlates with the disease stage and certain non-motor symptoms.
Comprehensive study of α-terpineol-loaded oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion: interfacial property, formulation, physical and chemical stability
Authors: de Oliveira Felipe Lorena , Bicas Juliano Lemos , Bouhoute Meryem , Nakajima Mitsutoshi , Neves Marcos A.
Published: November 2021

In this study, the interfacial ability of α-terpineol (α-TOH) was reported, followed by its trapping into oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion as active-ingredient and the long-term observation of this nanosystem influenced by the storage-time (410-days) and temperature (5, 25, 50 °C). The results indicated that the α-TOH can reduce the interfacial tension on the liquid-liquid interface (ΔG°m = −1.81 KJ mol−1; surface density = 8.19 × 10−6 mol m−2; polar head group area = 20.29 Å2), in the absence or presence of surfactant. The O/W nanoemulsion loaded with a high amount of α-TOH (90 mg mL−1; 9α-TOH-NE) into the oil phase was successfully formulated. Among the physical parameters, the mean droplet diameter (MDD) showed a great thermal dependence influenced by the storage-temperature, where the Ostwald ripening (OR) was identified as the main destabilizing phenomena that was taking place on 9α-TOH-NE at 5 and 25 °C along with time. Despite of the physical instability, the integrity of both nanoemulsion at 5 °C and 25 °C was fully preserved up to 410th day, displaying a homogeneous and comparable appearance by visual observation. On contrary, a non-thermal dependence was found for chemical stability, where over 88% of the initial amount of the α-TOH nanoemulsified remained in both 9α-TOH-NE at 5 and 25 °C, up to 410th day. Beyond the key data reported for α-TOH, the importance of this research relies on the long-term tracking of a nanostructured system which can be useful for scientific community as a model for a robust evaluation of nanoemulsion loaded with flavor oils.
Lipid profile migration during the tilapia muscle steaming process revealed by a transactional analysis between MS data and lipidomics data
Authors: Sun Rui , Wu Tingting , Guo Hao , Xu Jiamin , Chen Jiahui , Tao Ningping , Wang Xichang , Zhong Jian
Published: November 2021

In this work, lipid profile migration from muscle to juice during the tilapia muscle steaming process was revealed by a transactional analysis of data from ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q Exactive (UHPLC-QE) Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS) and lipidomics. Firstly, the lipids in tilapia muscles and juices at different steaming time points were extracted and examined by UHPLC-QE Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Secondly, a transactional analysis procedure was developed to analyze the data from UHPLC-QE Orbitrap MS and lipidomics. Finally, the corrected lipidomics data and the normalized MS data were used for lipid migration analysis. The results suggested that the transactional analysis procedure was efficient to significantly decrease UHPLC-QE Orbitrap MS workloads and delete the false-positive data (22.4–36.7%) in lipidomics data, which compensated the disadvantages of the current lipidomics method. The lipid changes could be disappearance, full migration into juice, appearance in juice, appearance in muscle, appearance in both muscle and juice, and retention in the muscle. Moreover, the results showed 9 (compared with 52), 5 (compared with 116), and 10 (compared with 178) of lipid class (compared with individual lipid) variables showed significant differences among the different steaming times (0, 10, 30, and 60 min) in all the muscles, juices, and muscle-juice systems, respectively. These results showed significant lipid profile migration from muscle to juice during the tilapia steaming process.
Sensitive identification of neoantigens and cognate TCRs in human solid tumors
Authors: Arnaud Marion , Chiffelle Johanna , Genolet Raphael , Navarro Rodrigo Blanca , Perez Marta A. S. , Huber Florian , Magnin Morgane , Nguyen-Ngoc Tu , Guillaume Philippe , Baumgaertner Petra , Chong Chloe , Stevenson Brian J. , Gfeller David , Irving Melita , Speiser Daniel E. , Schmidt Julien , Zoete Vincent , Kandalaft Lana E. , Bassani-Sternberg Michal , Bobisse Sara , Coukos George , Harari Alexandre
Published: November 2021

The identification of patient-specific tumor antigens is complicated by the low frequency of T cells specific for each tumor antigen. Here we describe NeoScreen, a method that enables the sensitive identification of rare tumor (neo)antigens and of cognate T cell receptors (TCRs) expressed by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. T cells transduced with tumor antigen-specific TCRs identified by NeoScreen mediate regression of established tumors in patient-derived xenograft mice.